Boko Haram Attack on Borno Military Base Leaves Eight Soldiers Dead

Boko Haram Attack on Borno Military Base Leaves Eight Soldiers Dead

BORNO STATE — Eight Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed and several others injured after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military base belonging to the 162 Battalion along the Mandara–Buratai Road in Borno State.

Security sources said the attack occurred in the early hours of Friday during heavy rainfall, with the insurgents launching a surprise assault on troops stationed at the facility.

According to military sources cited by Sahara Reporters, the attackers struck at about 4 a.m., taking advantage of poor visibility caused by the weather conditions to infiltrate parts of the military formation.

“162 Battalion Mandara Buratai Road, eight soldiers were killed in action. They attacked us at 4 a.m. today when it was raining,” a military source reportedly said.

Another source familiar with the incident said the insurgents arrived in large numbers and mounted a coordinated offensive that overwhelmed parts of the military position before reinforcement teams were deployed.

Security sources said additional troops had been sent to the area to reinforce the base, evacuate casualties and prevent further advances by the attackers. Efforts were also underway to determine the full extent of the casualties and damage caused during the assault.

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The attack is the latest in a series of renewed offensives by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) against military formations across Nigeria’s North-East region. In recent months, insurgents have intensified attacks on military bases, convoys and communities in Borno State, resulting in casualties among security personnel and civilians despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

Earlier this year, troops of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly repelled a major assault on a military base in Mallam Fatori, killing scores of insurgents with the support of air power. Security analysts say the latest attack underscores the continuing threat posed by insurgent groups operating in the Lake Chad region and surrounding areas.

The assault on the Mandara–Buratai Road military base also highlights the persistent security challenges facing troops deployed in the North-East, where terrorists continue to target military installations and strategic supply routes in a bid to disrupt military operations.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army and Operation Hadin Kai had not issued an official statement confirming the attack or the reported death toll.

Boko Haram Attack on Borno Military Base Leaves Eight Soldiers Dead