The Nigerian army suffered a setback after Boko Haram seized a town and key multinational military base in Baga, north-eastern Nigeria.
Villagers reported that the Nigerian military abandoned the base as militants began their assault on Saturday. The base hosted the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), made up of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Baga was the last town under Nigerian government control in Borno North. Speaking to the BBC, Maina Maaji Lawan, senator for Borno North, said that communications with the town were cut off, making details of casualties unclear.
Lawan told the BBC that the villagers' frustration had “no bounds” over reports that the army did not fight back against the militants. "We are very dispirited," said the senator. "There is definitely something wrong that makes our military abandon their posts each time there is an attack from Boko Haram."
Baga was the site of an alleged military massacre in 2013, when Nigerian troops reportedly burned thousands of houses and killed over 100 people, following a Boko Haram attack on an army patrol.
The Council on Foreign Relations said in November that over 10,000 people had been killed in 2014 alone, as the Nigerian government battles the Islamist militants.
Villagers reported that the Nigerian military abandoned the base as militants began their assault on Saturday. The base hosted the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), made up of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Baga was the last town under Nigerian government control in Borno North. Speaking to the BBC, Maina Maaji Lawan, senator for Borno North, said that communications with the town were cut off, making details of casualties unclear.
Lawan told the BBC that the villagers' frustration had “no bounds” over reports that the army did not fight back against the militants. "We are very dispirited," said the senator. "There is definitely something wrong that makes our military abandon their posts each time there is an attack from Boko Haram."
Baga was the site of an alleged military massacre in 2013, when Nigerian troops reportedly burned thousands of houses and killed over 100 people, following a Boko Haram attack on an army patrol.
The Council on Foreign Relations said in November that over 10,000 people had been killed in 2014 alone, as the Nigerian government battles the Islamist militants.