With renewed zeal, terrorists have upped their evil game against Nigeria, the latest being the raid of a military base in Bornu early Thursday which left several soldiers, one suspected to be a General, dead.

The soldiers were killed as they attempted to repel the terrorists who had unleashed a vicious attack on a military facility in Benisheikh in Borno state, army spokesman Michael Onoja said in a statement,

Onoja described the assailants as “terrorists,” didn’t specify how many soldiers were killed in the latest attack on military bases. He named Brig. Gen. Oseni Braimah as leader of the troops.

“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.

“Regrettably, the encounter resulted in the loss of a few brave and gallant soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” Onoja said.

Political Economist NG reports that the terrorists have grown in confidence in recent weeks with attacks in various parts of the country including Plateau, Kebbi and Kwara states.

These frequent attacks are coming at a time the Nigerian government is claiming a degradation of the ranks of the terrorists.

Political Economist NG further reports that the Nigerian government has also commenced mass prosecution of arrested terror suspects with some convictions within the last three days.

Among the 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 neighboring Sahel region, including the Jama´at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.