BREAKING: ISWAP Attacks Military Base in Borno, Kills 15 Soldiers, Burns Military Vehicles
About 15 soldiers have reportedly been killed after suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction linked to Boko Haram, attacked a military base in Borno State.
According to military sources, the attack occurred on Tuesday at the Mairari military base in Guzamala Local Government Area of the state.
Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the terrorists stormed the facility in large numbers, engaging troops in a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours.
One source told SaharaReporters that several soldiers were killed, while others remained missing following the assault.
Another source confirmed that approximately 15 soldiers lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries and were evacuated for medical treatment.
Videos circulating after the attack reportedly showed extensive destruction within the military base. Makeshift shelters constructed with corrugated iron sheets were burnt, while defensive sandbags and other structures were destroyed.
Several military gun trucks and Hilux vehicles were also seen burnt beyond recognition, with their charred remains scattered across the facility. A motorcycle was spotted abandoned in an open field as troops and residents reportedly inspected the ruins at dawn.
The footage suggested that the military installation had suffered extensive damage and had been looted during the attack.
Efforts to obtain comments from military authorities were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Mairari is located near Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area, although the community falls administratively under Guzamala LGA. Both areas have experienced repeated attacks by ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters.
The latest incident comes amid renewed attacks on military positions in northern Borno.
On October 10, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai announced that it had conducted a precision airstrike on an ISWAP enclave at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala LGA. The military claimed that more than 40 fighters, including a commander, were neutralised while preparing to attack troops in Sector 3.
Similarly, on October 7, troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion in Kukawa Local Government Area reportedly repelled coordinated attacks launched from four directions. The Army claimed that more than 25 terrorists were killed but acknowledged that some soldiers also lost their lives.
Borno State remains at the centre of Nigeria’s jihadist insurgency, which has lasted for more than 17 years, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced.
Despite repeated military assurances that the insurgency has been significantly weakened, persistent attacks on military installations continue to raise concerns about the security situation in the region.
