BREAKING: Panic in Borno as ISWAP Fighters Overrun Military Base, Kill Many Soldiers and Set Vehicles Ablaze
Suspected ISWAP terrorists have reportedly overrun a military base in Borno State, killing about 15 soldiers, injuring several others and destroying military vehicles during a prolonged gun battle.
The attack reportedly took place on Tuesday at the Mairari military base in Guzamala Local Government Area, according to sources familiar with the incident.
The attackers, believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, stormed the military installation in large numbers and engaged the troops in an intense exchange of gunfire that reportedly lasted for hours.
A military source disclosed that several soldiers were killed during the assault, while others were still missing after the attackers struck the base.
Another source put the death toll at approximately 15 soldiers, adding that several personnel sustained injuries and were evacuated for treatment.
Footage reportedly recorded after the incident showed the devastating impact of the attack, with burnt shelters, destroyed defensive positions and damaged structures scattered across the military facility.
Military gun trucks and Hilux vehicles were also seen reduced to charred wreckage, while a motorcycle lay abandoned in an open field. The scenes were reportedly captured at dawn as troops and residents inspected the damaged installation.
The available footage indicated that the base had suffered widespread destruction and may have been looted during the attack.
Military authorities had yet to issue an official response to the incident as efforts to obtain their comments proved unsuccessful.
The attack adds to growing security concerns in northern Borno, particularly in Guzamala and neighbouring Nganzai Local Government Areas, where ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters have maintained a presence.
It also follows a series of military operations and clashes in the region.
On October 10, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai announced an airstrike against an ISWAP hideout at Badu Village, south of Gudumbali in Guzamala LGA. According to the military, more than 40 terrorists, including a commander, were neutralised while preparing to launch an attack on troops in Sector 3.
Four days earlier, on October 7, soldiers of the 101 Special Forces Battalion in Kukawa LGA reportedly repelled a coordinated assault launched from four directions. The Army claimed that more than 25 terrorists were killed during the confrontation, while acknowledging that some soldiers also died.
Nigeria’s northeastern region has endured more than 17 years of jihadist violence, with Borno State bearing much of the burden. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and forced millions of people from their homes.
The reported attack on the Mairari military base highlights the continuing threat posed by insurgent groups despite repeated military claims of significant progress in the fight against terrorism.
