Nigeria’s military acknowledges major attack

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s military on Saturday acknowledged a major attack against it by Islamic extremists after opposition lawmakers said 44 soldiers were killed, while public pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari grew over the failure of his pledge to defeat Boko Haram.

The president expressed “deep shock” and pledged “all the needed support” to the military to end the renewed threat, his office said late Saturday.

The military statement issued overnight, nearly a week after the attack, didn’t say how many soldiers were killed.

As Buhari faces growing pressure over insecurity ahead of next year’s presidential election, aide Bashir Ahmad said the president had summoned military chiefs and sent the defense minister to Chad for an “urgent meeting” with President Idriss Deby.