Islamic State Claims Deadly Attacks in the Philippines and Nigeria

The group known as the Islamic State has claimed that its affiliates and militants carried out deadly attacks two days ago in the Philippines and Nigeria. On January 27, the Islamic State claimed that the attacks on a church in Jolo Island in southern Philippines were carried out by two suicide bombers affiliated with ISIS. Following the explosion of two bombs during Sunday services at the church, at least 21 people were killed and over 80 injured. Jolo Island is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in southern Philippines and has previously been the scene of attacks and violence by the Abu Sayyaf group. The leader of Abu Sayyaf announced five years ago that he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The Philippines is a country with a majority of Catholic believers, but the majority in some southern regions are Muslims. Muslims make up about 11% of the country's population. Another attack that ISIS has claimed responsibility for is against Nigerian security forces in the village of Logumani in Nigeria. The Islamic State claims to have killed 30 Nigerian soldiers in this attack. However, a spokesperson for the Nigerian army stated that the attack on the soldiers in Logumani was repelled, and only eight soldiers were injured, none of whom are in critical condition. The group known as the 'Islamic State in West Africa,' which split from Boko Haram, was formed in 2016 and has claimed responsibility for several attacks in northeastern Nigeria in recent months. Nigeria, along with Syria and Iraq, as well as Somalia, Pakistan, the Central African Republic, and India, is among the ten countries with the highest casualties from terrorist attacks. A report known as the 'Global Terrorism Index' indicated that the death toll from terrorism worldwide decreased by 27% in 2017.