No fewer than 40 Nigerian soldiers have reportedly been killed following coordinated attacks by militants of Islamic State West Africa Province, a faction of Boko Haram, on several military bases in Borno State.
Sources said the insurgents simultaneously launched attacks on military formations in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte between about 10 p.m. on Thursday and 3 a.m. on Friday.
According to military sources, the attackers arrived in several groups and opened sporadic fire on the military facilities, causing heavy casualties among the troops. As of Saturday, more than 40 bodies of soldiers had reportedly been recovered from the affected bases.
Among the victims was a senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, who was killed alongside some of his men during the assault on the base in Konduga.
Following the attacks, the Waidi Shaibu, reportedly travelled to Maiduguri, the state capital, for an emergency briefing at the Theatre Command headquarters.
A military source said several soldiers are still missing after the attacks.
“We lost over 40 soldiers to those attacks. It’s very sad. Some of our men are still missing and we cannot confirm whether they are alive or dead,” the source said.
During the assaults, the insurgents reportedly destroyed armoured tanks and military vehicles, burned down parts of the bases, and carted away unspecified quantities of ammunition. However, troops were also said to have killed several of the attackers while repelling the assaults.
The attacks are part of a series of recent insurgent operations targeting military positions across the North-East. Security forces and civilians in Borno have continued to face violence from Boko Haram and ISWAP, groups responsible for thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions in the region over the years.
The latest incident also comes less than 24 hours after suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked a military post in Ngoshe, killing several civilians and abducting women during the raid.
Security operations remain ongoing as authorities continue efforts to contain insurgent activities in the region.
