Soldiers repel deadly Boko Haram attack on military base in Borno

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly launched a fierce assault on a military formation in Izge village, located in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, on Sunday.

The attack resulted in the deaths of an undisclosed number of soldiers, according to reports from military and local sources.

Captain Reuben Kavongiya, the Public Relations Officer for the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, confirmed the assault but stated that further details would be released later. “I will confirm details and get back,” he told The PUNCH.

Security sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, indicated that the insurgents attempted to raid the military camp around 1 a.m. but were met with a strong defence from the soldiers stationed there.

The Chairman of the Gwoza Local Government Area, Abba Timta, corroborated the attack and noted that several insurgents were killed during the confrontation.

While the exact number of soldiers lost in the attack remains unclear, sources reported that many insurgents fled the scene with gunshot wounds. “Soldiers were killed, but there were more casualties on the insurgent side, with many fleeing with injuries,” the military source revealed.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that local vigilantes and hunters played a crucial role in repelling the insurgents.

“We learned of the incident as it happened in Izge today. The news has it that the Boko Haram group attacked in large numbers but was pushed back by the combined efforts of local hunters and vigilantes,” the resident said.

This incident follows a recent attack on a military base in Sabon Gari, located in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, which occurred on March 24. Local sources informed that the insurgents had assaulted the military formation, resulting in numerous casualties among the soldiers, including fatalities and critical injuries.

Further details about the Sabon Gari attack are scarce, but Abba Usman, a resident of Damboa, provided additional context.

He reported that military reinforcements rushing to support the base encountered a landmine, resulting in an explosion that caused further injuries and potentially more casualties.

“I do not have much information, but I can confirm that there was an attack, and soldiers were killed. We also heard that reinforcements stepping on something like a bomb caused an explosion,” Usman stated.