Army general and several soldiers killed in attack on military base in Nigeria's northeast

An army general and several soldiers were killed during an attempt to raid a military base in northeastern Nigeria early Thursday, officials said.

The attack occurred in Benisheikh in Borno State, army spokesman Michael Onoja said in a statement, but it was repelled.

Onoja described the assailants as "terrorists," which is the term the military uses to describe members of Islamic militant groups in the northeast of the country.

President Bola Tinubu confirmed that a general was killed in the attack.

"The insurgents' counterattack is a sign of desperation," he said in a statement. "I extend my condolences to the families of our gallant soldiers, led by Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our country today in Borno State. The government will never forget their sacrifices."

"Their sacrifices will not be in vain," Tinubu said. "Because of the courage and dedication of our troops on the front line, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever."

Onoja didn't specify how many soldiers were killed in the latest attack on military bases but media reports put the death toll at at least 18 people.

"This attack is a clear indication of the desperation of terrorist elements who, having suffered significant losses in recent operations, continue to resort to futile and ill-fated offensives against well-defended military positions," he said. "Regrettably, the encounter resulted in the loss of a few brave and gallant soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty."

Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north where there is a decade long insurgency and several armed groups who kidnap for ransom.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

The crisis has worsened recently to include other militants from the neighbouring Sahel region, including the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.

US assistance

Earlier this year, the United States sent 200 troops and drones to Nigeria to assist the Nigerian military in fighting extremists. The US military said that the American troops won't engage in combat or have a direct operational role, and that Nigerian forces will have complete command authority.

The deployment is part of a new security partnership agreed on after US President Donald Trump alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria's security crisis. The US launched strikes against IS forces on December 26.

Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens.

On Wednesday, the US State Department said in a notice it was authorising "non-emergency US government employees" to leave Abuja "due to the deteriorating security situation".