The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for an attack on an office in Monguno, Borno State, which it alleged belonged to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The terror group, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters, said its fighters carried out the assault, destroying several Nigerian military vehicles in the process.
However, military sources have refuted ISWAP’s claim, clarifying that while an international NGO office was indeed raided, it was not affiliated with the ICRC. “Yes, it was an office complex used by an NGO, but not the Red Cross. Two staff members were also abducted, and the attackers are demanding N50 million for their release,” a military source disclosed.
The assault, which lasted over two hours, saw the terrorists razing multiple buildings and setting military operational vehicles ablaze. This latest attack underscores ISWAP’s growing dominance in the Lake Chad region, particularly following the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau. The group has continued to expand its ranks with the defection of hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters.
Despite repeated assurances from the Nigerian Army that insurgency has been significantly weakened, ISWAP and other extremist groups continue to launch deadly offensives, destabilizing communities and security installations.
The insurgency, which has raged for over a decade, has claimed more than 100,000 lives and displaced millions across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. The latest attack in Monguno further highlights the persistent threat posed by jihadist factions in Nigeria’s northeastern region.
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