At least seven members of a Nigerian government protection agency went missing after their convoy was ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents in Shiroro, Niger State on Monday, AP reported.
The convoy, which was part of a 80-strong team assigned to protect Nigeria’s power network, was attacked by approximately 200 Boko Haram fighters..
The attack resulted in the death of at least 50 insurgents, according to Babawale Afolabi, Spokesperson for Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Boko Haram, a militant group notorious for targeting the country’s infrastructure, has recently escalated its attacks. In fact, insurgents in northern Nigeria previously caused a prolonged power outage lasting more than a week by damaging critical equipment last month.
Although the group predominantly operates in the northeast, Niger state, which is predominantly Muslim, it has also seen an increasing number of Boko Haram attacks, including against the military and civilians.
The insurgency, which began in 2009, aims to impose a radical version of Islamic law and fight against Western education. The group’s violent activities have led to significant loss of life and displacement, with over 35,000 civilians killed and forcibly at least 2 million in northeastern Nigeria alone.
The kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014 remains one of the most notorious acts of Boko Haram, drawing global outrage.
In September, Boko Haram fighters killed at least 100 villagers in northeastern Nigeria, when they opened fire on a market, worshippers, and homes. Despite ongoing military efforts to curb Boko Haram’s violence. The insurgency continues to destabilize not only Nigeria but also neighboring countries.