Terrorists kill commanding officer, 5 soldiers in Borno ambush

A deadly ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents has claimed the lives of nine security personnel, including the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 202 Battalion, five soldiers, and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), in Kashimiri village, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack occurred on Friday evening as troops were returning from a successful clearance operation targeting insurgent hideouts. According to military sources, the operation had been launched following intelligence reports of a planned terrorist assault on Bama, Kawuri, and Awulari communities.

A soldier who survived the ambush recounted the harrowing experience, revealing that the troops had dismantled a terrorist camp and rescued several women and children before falling into the trap. “They opened fire from behind, and when we turned to face them, another group launched RPGs from the front. Bullets rained from both sides,” he said.

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The Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion in Konduga was among those injured, while one soldier, identified as Bello, was reportedly abducted by the attackers. Intercepted insurgent radio communications confirmed his capture, prompting an urgent search and rescue operation.

A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident and noted that troop morale remains high. “Operations are ongoing to maintain pressure on the terrorists and rescue our captured soldier,” the source said. He added that reinforcements had been deployed to the area and that the troops had used motorcycles due to the challenging terrain.

The ambush is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Borno State. On September 5, over 60 people were killed in an overnight attack on Darul Jamal village, just a few kilometres from Kashimiri. In response, the Nigerian Air Force launched retaliatory airstrikes that reportedly killed 30 militants. Another recent attack targeted a military base in Banki, where insurgents looted arms and ammunition.

Security forces under Operation Hadin Kai continue to battle insurgency in the region, with renewed efforts to secure vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.