Three Soldiers Killed as Suspected Militants Raid Kwara Military Base

Nigerian Military Troops

Three Soldiers Killed as Suspected Militants Raid Kwara Military Base

Suspected terrorists linked to Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, have reportedly launched a deadly attack on a military formation in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least three soldiers dead and four others injured.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, was said to have taken place around 3:00 a.m. in Kemanji, a community located near the fringes of the Kainji National Park—an area security sources have long identified as a potential hideout for armed groups.

According to intelligence sources and local residents, the attackers stormed the military base under the cover of darkness and opened fire on personnel stationed at the camp. In the operation, three soldiers were reportedly killed, while four others—comprising three soldiers and a member of a local vigilante group—sustained injuries.

A forest guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed the assault, stating that the gunmen launched a direct attack on the facility.

“The terrorists came straight to the military camp and opened fire on soldiers. Three soldiers were killed, and four others were injured,” the source said.

In addition to the casualties, the assailants were said to have looted military assets, including eight operational motorcycles and a gun truck, further raising concerns over the security of the area.

However, a local vigilante source indicated that the attackers may have also suffered casualties during the exchange of gunfire, although the exact number could not be independently verified.

While several armed groups are believed to be operating within the area, security sources have attributed the attack to Ansaru fighters, known for their sporadic but coordinated assaults on security formations in parts of north-central Nigeria.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the military authorities nor the Kwara State Police Command had issued an official statement regarding the incident.

The latest attack underscores growing security challenges around the Kainji Lake National Park axis, with concerns mounting over the increasing activity of extremist elements in the area.