At least eight Nigerian soldiers have reportedly lost their lives following a deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on a military formation in Borno State.
The assault occurred in the early hours of Friday at the 162 Battalion military base located along the Mandara-Buratai Road, according to military sources familiar with the incident.
Sources disclosed that the attackers launched the operation at about 4:00 a.m. during a period of heavy rainfall, taking advantage of poor weather conditions to mount a surprise offensive against troops stationed at the facility.
A military source who confirmed the incident revealed that the insurgents stormed the base in large numbers, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire that resulted in casualties among military personnel.
According to the source, eight soldiers were killed during the attack, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Another security source disclosed that the attackers temporarily overran sections of the military formation before reinforcement teams were deployed to the area.
The source explained that the insurgents carried out a coordinated assault, overwhelming some positions within the base and causing significant disruption before security forces responded.
Military authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack highlights the continuing security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East region, where Boko Haram and fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified attacks on military formations and communities despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that insurgent groups continue to exploit difficult terrains, adverse weather conditions, and remote locations to launch attacks against security personnel and civilian targets.
Meanwhile, efforts are reportedly ongoing to stabilise the affected area, evacuate injured personnel, and strengthen security around vulnerable military positions in the region.
