Suspected insurgents launched a deadly attack on a Nigerian army base in Borno State early Monday, resulting in the capture of troops and military equipment, according to security sources.
The raid occurred at the 153 Task Force Battalion base in the Marte district, an area frequently targeted by armed groups. Militants reportedly arrived on motorcycles and gun trucks, overrunning the base around 2:00 GMT, said a soldier who survived the assault and spoke on condition of anonymity.
In response, Nigerian forces withdrew to the nearby 24 Task Force Brigade in Dikwa, where they regrouped and mounted a counteroffensive that eventually recaptured the base. However, multiple soldiers were reported killed, and others remain unaccounted for.
“They killed many of our soldiers while some were taken alive during the withdrawal,” the soldier said.
The Nigerian Army has not issued a formal statement on the incident. Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele referred inquiries to the Defence Headquarters, which has yet to comment.
A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a community militia assisting government forces, confirmed that the attackers seized ammunition and set fire to anti-mine resistance vehicles. The CJTF member also noted that the military is still conducting search operations to locate missing personnel.
The assault adds to growing concerns about a resurgence of insurgent activity in Nigeria’s northeast. Attacks by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified in recent months. Analysts say a temporary lull in infighting between the groups, along with their increasing use of drones and roadside bombs, has strengthened their operational capabilities.