The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the Nigeria-based chapter of
ISIS, has claimed responsibility for the July 6 attack on a maximum-secur





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ISIS Claims Jailbreak In Nigeria, Hundreds Of Inmates Freed



(New York, N.Y.) — The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the
Nigeria-based chapter of ISIS, has claimed responsibility for the July 6 attack
on a maximum-security prison in Abuja. The jailbreak, the first one conducted
by ISWAP in the capital of the country, led to the escape of 443 inmates, of
which 64 are suspected of being members of terror groups such as ISWAP, Boko
Haram, and the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru. Since the attack, Nigerian security
forces have been able torecapture
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27 of the escapees. However, given that convicted terrorists are on the run,
there is concern among authorities of imminent attacks.



To read the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)’s resource Nigeria: Extremism and
Terrorism, please click here
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According to media sources, the militants detonated “very high-grade
explosives” killing a security officer and injuring three others. Shuaib
Belgore, permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, claimed the attackers
specifically sought to release co-conspirators, but the operation led to the
escape of almost 900 inmates. However, more than half have returned to the
prison while the others remain at large. The raid occurred a month after ISWAP
gunmen detonated explosives and opened fire on a Catholic church in Ondo State,
southwestern Nigeria on June 5. The explosion killed at least 40 and injured 87
others.



“Although prison breaks are a fairly regular occurrence in the country, with
this prison attack, ISWAP continues to showcase its strength in the region.
Being able to organize such a complex operation in the country’s capital, away
from ISWAP’s core area of operations and against one of the country’s most
secure facilities is an example of the growing capabilities of this terror
group,” said CEP Senior DirectorDr. Hans-Jakob Schindler
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Coordinator of the U.N. Security Council’s ISIL (Da’esh), al-Qaeda, and Taliban
Sanctions Monitoring Team. “After integrating most of Boko Haram into their
forces by essentially destroying a competing faction within the group, ISIS is
well on the way to develop into the dominate terrorist force in West Africa.”



Newly announced CEP Advisory Board Member and also formerly the Coordinator of
the U.N. Security Council’s ISIL (Da’esh), al-Qaeda, and Taliban Sanctions
Monitoring TeamAmbassador Edmund Fitton-Brown
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remains a large and very capable presence in West Africa, which is evident by
their extensive operational activity in the region. Jailbreaks have become a
global trademark of the group, occurring in many locations at the explicit
urging of ISIS leadership. Nigeria and the surrounding areas should remain
vigilant as the rest of the inmates are captured.”



To read CEP’s resource ISIS, please click here
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To read CEP’s resource Boko Haram, please click here
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