Boko Haram strikes, after Pres. Buhari's "technically" defeat assertion.

Boko Haram attacked a key town in north-eastern Nigeria on Sunday night, days after President Muhammadu Buhari said his country had “technically” won the war against Boko Haram.

The Islamist group is reported to have opened fire and triggered explosives in Jiddari Polo, a town on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

This new attack also comes days before the December 31 deadline President Buhari set for himself to to defeat the insurrection of this jihadist group, expires.

“We had just finished evening prayers at the mosque when we started hearing artillery and gunfire, all residents have fled their homes to other parts of the city,” one resident, Shehu Mala told the AFP.

Unconfirmed Casualties

It is not immediately clear if there were causalities. But The Associated Press reported that at least 15 people have been killed in the attack.

“We have to wait until morning to get an idea of ​​the consequences of the attack, which occurred in the dark,” said a member of a self-defense militia assisting the army, Babakura Kolo.

The Nigerian army retaliated with artillery fire, forcing the Islamists to retreat. Boko Haram has repeatedly tried to reconquer the city of Maiduguri.

Nigerian troops “intercepted and destroyed” 10 suicide bombers, according to PR Nigeria, an agency that releases government news.

The Nigerian security forces have managed to recapture some territories from Boko Haram, but critics have questioned President Buhari’ s assertion of “technically” defeating the Islamist group in view of the new attack.