Five soldiers and a police officer were killed on Monday in an ambush targeting security forces in Nigeria’s northwest, the army confirmed on Tuesday.
The attack took place in Zamfara state, according to a statement by army spokesperson David Adewusi. He said troops were caught off guard but managed to fight back, engaging the attackers and preventing further violence against nearby communities.
“Despite the surprise nature of the ambush, the troops responded gallantly,” Adewusi said, adding that six members of the security forces lost their lives during the clash.
The incident came shortly after recent security operations in the area that led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of weapons last week.
Northern Nigeria has seen a sharp rise in insecurity in recent months, particularly in the northwest and north-central regions, where armed groups have intensified kidnappings for ransom. The region is also affected by a long-running insurgency in the northeast.
The Boko Haram uprising began in 2009, aimed at opposing Western-style education and enforcing a strict interpretation of Islamic law. The conflict has since expanded with the emergence of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an affiliate of the Islamic State group.
The violence has spread beyond Nigeria’s borders into neighboring countries such as Niger, leaving around 35,000 civilians dead and displacing more than two million people, according to United Nations estimates.
Last month, the United States carried out airstrikes in northern Nigeria targeting Islamic State elements, following accusations that authorities had failed to curb attacks on Christian communities.
