Terror Strikes Again: ISWAP Launches Mortar Attack on Nigerian Army in Goniri

Terror Strikes Again: ISWAP Launches Mortar Attack on Nigerian Army in Goniri

In a brazen display of violence, the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) unleashed a mortar attack on the Nigerian Army in Goniri, Yobe State, sending shockwaves throughout the region. The militants employed a 82mm Yugoslavian M69 mortar, accompanied by Yugo/Serbian M74 HE mortar, in their assault .

ISWAP, a Salafi jihadist militant group and administrative division of the Islamic State (IS), has been wreaking havoc in the Chad Basin, fighting an extensive insurgency against Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Turkey. The group's origins date back to 2015 when Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. However, Shekau's extreme tactics led to a split within the group, resulting in the formation of ISWAP under Abu Musab al-Barnawi's leadership .

With an estimated 3,000 to 18,000 fighters, ISWAP has grown in strength and influence. The group's military prowess is marked by the use of inghimasi forlorn hope/suicide attack shock troops and armored fighting vehicles. ISWAP has seized tanks, including T-55s, and armored personnel carriers like the BTR-4EN. In times of manpower shortages, ISWAP forcibly conscripts civilians into its ranks, often using economic pressure to recruit new fighters .

The humanitarian implications of ISWAP's actions are severe. The group targets agencies providing humanitarian aid, depriving locals of basic necessities in government-held areas. ISWAP also enforces strict Sharia law, meting out harsh punishments, including amputations and executions. Climate change increases the vulnerability of conflict-shaken populations to drought and other natural disasters, exacerbating the already dire situation .

As the situation in Nigeria continues to unfold, international attention is focused on the region. The fight against ISWAP requires a coordinated effort to address the root causes of extremism and provide support to affected communities. Ensuring that warring parties recognize the applicability of international humanitarian law (IHL) to all persons affected by armed conflict is vital for ensuring respect for the law .