At least seven members of a Nigerian government protection agency are missing after Boko Haram insurgents ambushed their convoy in Niger state, officials said.
A team of 80 security operatives guarding the power network was attacked Monday in Shiroro by around 200 Boko Haram fighters, according to Babawale Afolabi, spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He stated that at least 50 insurgents were killed.
Boko Haram, known for sabotaging Nigeria’s power supply, damaged key equipment last month, leaving northern Nigeria without power for over a week. The group, primarily active in the northeast, has cells in Niger state, where they’ve previously targeted both military and civilians.
Since 2009, Boko Haram has waged a violent campaign to impose Sharia law, making it Africa’s longest militant conflict. The United Nations reports over 35,000 civilians killed and more than 2 million displaced. The 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok brought global attention to the crisis.
In September, suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least 100 villagers in northeastern Nigeria, attacking a market, worshippers, and homes, according to residents.
