ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Boko Haram insurgents launched a predawn attack on a Nigerian Army base along the Mandara-Buratai Road in Borno State on Friday, killing at least eight soldiers and leaving several others injured, according to military sources.
The assault reportedly occurred around 4 a.m. during a heavy downpour, with the attackers taking advantage of poor weather conditions to strike the military formation.
According to Sahara Reporters, a source attached to the affected unit identified the location as the 162 Battalion base and confirmed that eight soldiers were killed during the attack.
“They attacked us around 4 a.m. today (Friday) while it was raining. Eight soldiers were killed in action,” the source said.
Another military source disclosed that the insurgents breached parts of the facility during the operation and inflicted significant casualties on troops stationed there.
According to the source, several soldiers also sustained injuries during the attack.
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Sources familiar with the incident said the terrorists arrived in large numbers, overwhelming the position and catching troops off guard amid the adverse weather.
Following the attack, security authorities reportedly deployed reinforcement teams to the area, while efforts were ongoing to determine the full extent of the casualties and assess the situation at the base.
The incident is the latest in a series of renewed attacks by Boko Haram and fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) against military formations in Nigeria’s North-East region despite continued counterinsurgency operations by the armed forces.
As of the time of filing this report, military authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.
The assault reportedly occurred around 4 a.m. during a heavy downpour, with the attackers taking advantage of poor weather conditions to strike the military formation.
According to Sahara Reporters, a source attached to the affected unit identified the location as the 162 Battalion base and confirmed that eight soldiers were killed during the attack.
“They attacked us around 4 a.m. today (Friday) while it was raining. Eight soldiers were killed in action,” the source said.
Another military source disclosed that the insurgents breached parts of the facility during the operation and inflicted significant casualties on troops stationed there.
According to the source, several soldiers also sustained injuries during the attack.
Sources familiar with the incident said the terrorists arrived in large numbers, overwhelming the position and catching troops off guard amid the adverse weather.
Following the attack, security authorities reportedly deployed reinforcement teams to the area, while efforts were ongoing to determine the full extent of the casualties and assess the situation at the base.
The incident is the latest in a series of renewed attacks by Boko Haram and fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) against military formations in Nigeria’s North-East region despite continued counterinsurgency operations by the armed forces.
As of the time of filing this report, military authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.