Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province faction of Boko Haram attacked a military base in Gudumbali late on Friday, December 14, military sources told AFP.

Fighters in several technicals – trucks fitted with anti-aircraft guns – attacked the base around 7:00 pm (1600 GMT), leading to an hours-long fight, the two military sources said.

The attack was repelled with aerial support, the sources said.

There were no reports of casualties.

Update Sunday, December 16 Islamic State claimed fighters from its West Africa Province affiliate attacked a military barracks in Gudumbali, killing five soldiers and injuring others. ISIS claimed two “tanks” and two other vehicles were destroyed, while militants captured three four-wheel-drive vehicles, weapons and ammunition.

The Nigerian Army on Sunday said it repelled an attack on Gudumbali on Friday. One soldierkilled and dozens of others were missing after the attack on a military base and a nearby community in Gudumbali local government area. One source said 28 militants were killed.

The town of Gudumbali in Guzamala district of Borno state has been attacked several times in recent months.

On December 4, ISWAP fighters attacked a military base in Gudumbali, sparking a fierce firefight in which two soldiers were injured, while in early September, thousands of civilians were forced to flee after Boko Haram militants took control of the town before withdrawing the following day.

Surge in Boko Haram attacks

Boko Haram split into two factions in mid-2016 over ideological differences. One is led by Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi and largely focuses on attacking military and government targets, while the other, led by Abubakar