Thousands flee to Cameroon after Nigeria terrorist attack

Terrorists in northeast Nigeria attacked a military base overnight, sending approximately 5,000 civilians fleeing over the border to Cameroon, security sources and witnesses said on Friday.

This year has seen a resurgence of violence by Boko Haram terrorist group and its rival offshoot, ISWAP, both engaged in a long-running terror in the west African country.

The overnight attack on the towns of Banki and Freetown, both near the Cameroon border, come less than a fortnight after an assault on displaced people resettled from the conflict in nearby Darul Jamal, in which around 90 people were killed.

Witnesses blaming Boko Haram said terrorists struck Banki around midnight and that one civilian was killed in the ensuing gun battle between troops and the attackers.

‘Troops fought bravely’

"Everywhere people were screaming and running," resident Amina Bakari told AFP after fleeing across the border.