ISWAP behind attack on soldiers in Madalla near Zuma rock

Friday’s brutal attack on soldiers that led to the killing of two of them at Madalla near Zuma rock in Niger State was carried out by the members of Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).

The insurgents swooped on soldiers and killed two at a checkpoint.

The checkpoint is being manned by the presidential guards who were stationed close to Zuma rock.

The Spokesman for Suleja Local Government Council of Niger State, Mr Muhammad Abdullahi confirmed that attackers were in large numbers shooting sporadically.

According to him, his friend who was an eye witness confirmed that the military lost two personnel in the encounter.

Also, a SITE Intelligence, an American non-governmental organisation that tracks Jihadist groups, ISWAP has drawn “closer to the Nigerian capital” with the attack on the military checkpoint.

The development is the second attack attributed to the group this month.

Earlier in July, ISWAP claimed responsibility for the attack on a correctional facility in the Kuje council area of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The gunmen had attacked the correctional facility, with hundreds of prisoners — including Boko Haram suspects — said to have escaped.

A video said to have been published by the A’maq agency, a propaganda magazine used by the group, showed what appeared to be a view of the Kuje prison with gunshots.

ISWAP, which broke out of the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram, had carried out most of its attacks in the northeast.