At least eight Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed after suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military base along the Mandara–Buratai Road in Borno State in the early hours of Friday.
According to military sources, the attackers targeted the 162 Battalion position at about 4 a.m., taking advantage of heavy rainfall and poor visibility to launch the assault. The attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers, while several others sustained injuries.
Sources said the insurgents struck in large numbers and were able to overrun parts of the military facility during the encounter. Reinforcements were subsequently deployed to the area as security forces moved to stabilize the situation and pursue the attackers.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on military formations in Nigeria’s North-East, where terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified operations against security forces and civilian targets in recent months.
Security analysts note that despite sustained counterinsurgency operations by the military under Operation Hadin Kai, insurgent groups continue to demonstrate the capacity to launch coordinated attacks on military positions, particularly in remote areas of Borno State.
The attack comes amid ongoing concerns about security in the North-East and follows other recent assaults on military bases in Borno, highlighting the persistent threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.
As of the latest reports, military authorities had not issued a comprehensive official statement detailing the casualties or the full outcome of the attack. Rescue, reinforcement, and pursuit operations were reportedly continuing in the affected area.
The development is likely to renew calls for enhanced intelligence gathering, improved force protection measures, and sustained military pressure on insurgent strongholds across the North-East.
