Boko Haram, a militant group plaguing the north-eastern part of Nigeria has attacked a small town and a multinational military base according to official report. The militant group was reported to have attacked a key military base in the town of Baga on Saturday, a senator from Borno state said.
Survivors of the attack, as well as residents of the town said that the militant group set the whole town ablaze and confirmed that many people were killed during the attack. Fleeing residents seek refuge through the neighboring region of Chad and has fled the town via boats.
The town of Baga is the last bastion of government power in the northern part of the Borno region. It is the site of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, a key military base composed of troops from Niger, Chad and Nigeria. The military base was originally se t up to deal with crimes within the Lake Chad region but has recently turned their attention to Boko Haram activities as well. According to reports, Boko Haram attacks are being conducted on a daily basis. They attack villages and abduct young boy, perhaps to be trained as recruits. The military, despite aid from Western forces, is unable to suppress the spread of violence within the region.
The Boko Haram which means "Western education is forbidden" was founded in 2002 which the principles of opposing Western education. The militant group began its military offensive in 2009 in hopes of liberating themselves from government control and establishing an Islamic state. The militant group was known to be operating mostly in the north-east part of Nigeria but smaller renegade factions were also reported to attack various police and UN headquarters, including those located in the Nigeria's capital, Abuja. The militant group was officially declared as a terrorist group by the United States in 2013.
