Nigeria: Army kills 16 Boko Haram militants in Borno state July 27

Event

At approximately 18:30 (local time) on Friday, July 27, the Nigerian military repelled an attack by Boko Haram militants on the village of Monguno in the Mairari area of Borno state. According to a Nigerian military spokesperson, at least 16 Boko Haram militants were killed in the fighting. Reports indicate that one soldier and four civilians were wounded in the attack. Additional military forces have been deployed to the area, nevertheless, further clashes between security forces and Boko Haram militants are possible in Mairari, and throughout Borno state, in the coming days and weeks.

Context

The northeastern region of Nigeria is highly susceptible to attacks by Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in March 2015 and formally adopted the name of Islamic State in West Africa. While Nigerian military forces have pushed Boko Haram insurgents from much of their previously claimed territory over the past year, attacks by the insurgent group have been on the rise since June 2017. 

Advice

Individuals in Borno state are advised to monitor the situation, remain vigilant for militant activity, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.

The security environment in Nigeria is complex, and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (i.e. states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, and Kano states) and the southern Niger Delta region (i.e. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). It is also advisable to avoid nonessential travel to Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna states. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.