JUST IN: Boko Haram Attacks Borno Military Base, Kills Army Major and Soldiers

Armed insurgents linked to Boko Haram have carried out a deadly raid on a Nigerian Army facility in Borno State, leaving an Army Major and several soldiers dead.

The attack targeted a forward military position around Banki axis in the early hours of Sunday.

The assailants reportedly stormed the base in coordinated units, overwhelming troops stationed at the location.

Security sources said the assault occurred at the Forward Base Operations near Banki junction along the Bama–Gwaza Road. Heavy gunfire was heard for hours as soldiers attempted to repel the attackers.

The militants were identified as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, a faction that has intensified attacks on military formations across the North-East.

A senior Army officer, Major U. I. Mairiga, was confirmed killed during the operation. Several other soldiers also lost their lives, while some personnel reportedly retreated into surrounding bushes amid the chaos.

“An attack at Forward Base operations at Banki junction around 0400hrs by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists led to the death of an Army Major and many other soldiers this morning.

“Their corpses are being transferred to 7 Division military hospital in Maiduguri,”

The remains of the fallen soldiers were moved to a military medical facility in Maiduguri, as efforts continue to account for missing personnel.

The latest incident adds to a string of recent assaults on military targets in the state. Weeks earlier, insurgents attacked an Army base in Jakana, located in Kaga Local Government Area, where armoured vehicles were destroyed and weapons carted away.

“An attack occurred this morning, 06/02/2025, at an Army outpost along Maiduguri/Damaturu Road, Jakana town, by Boko Haram terrorists, with many casualties recorded on our side,”

That attack followed another deadly ambush days earlier, in which seven soldiers, including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel, were killed while on operational movement.

Military insiders disclosed that the insurgents deployed explosives and sustained gunfire during these operations, leading to severe casualties and injuries, with some soldiers still unaccounted for.

Since the death of former Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has expanded its influence around Lake Chad, absorbing defectors and increasing pressure on security forces in the region.