Nigeria, Feb. 16 -- Suspected fighters belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a coordinated assault on a military position in the southeastern Nigerien city of Diffa late at night between February 14 and 15, according to local sources.

The attack, which began around midnight, saw the militants use automatic weapons to overpower the stationed security forces.

Eyewitnesses reported that the soldiers, unable to withstand the intensity of the assault, eventually abandoned their post.

This withdrawal allowed the attackers to advance further into the city, reaching the Festival Quarter a densely populated residential area of Diffa. However, the militants did not remain there for long.

After briefly occupying th...