3 Nigerian soldiers feared killed in Daesh attack

LAGOS Nigeria

At least three Nigerian soldiers were killed early Thursday in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on their base in the restive northeast Borno state, according to a local paramilitary and the Daesh terrorist group.

"Information from our team in Baga showed that three soldiers died in the early hours of Thursday. About eight others were injured," Adamu Dingi, a member of a local government-backed paramilitary group, told Anadolu Agency.

Dingi said the dead and injured were taken to Maiduguri, Borno’s capital.

Attacks on regional forces fighting Daesh across the Lake Chad area have been on the rise in the past weeks -- underscoring the adaptation of the terrorists in the 10-year-old insurgency to avoid encounters with the troops while also inflicting violence.

The Nigerian army has not spoken on the development.

However, Daesh confirmed the attack in a statement.

"Three soldiers from the Multinational Joint Military Task Force were killed late Wednesday, while heavy weapons belonging to the regional troops were destroyed through IED planted [by us]," said the statement issued through Daesh’s propaganda unit, Al-'Amaq.