Six newly recruited soldiers were killed in a brutal attack by Boko Haram terrorists on a Forward Operating Base in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State. The attack, which occurred late on Saturday, also led to the disappearance of several soldiers and caused significant damage to facilities at the base.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the insurgents launched a “well-coordinated” assault, setting ablaze a school used as a temporary camp for soldiers and several military vehicles.
Umar Wakil, an eyewitness, described the attack as unexpected and overwhelming.
“The attackers came with sophisticated weapons. They caught the soldiers off guard and carried out a coordinated attack,” he said.
Wakil also shared a personal loss, saying, “A friend of mine was killed during the attack. I can’t confirm the total number of casualties, but the victims were all newly recruited soldiers, people I was familiar with.”
He further suggested that the attack might have been a revenge mission.
“Despite passing through various routes, no civilian was harmed. However, a leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force was injured,” Wakil added.
Another source, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, who spoke anonymously, detailed the timeline of the incident.
“They struck shortly after 5 p.m. Everyone in the area sought shelter upon hearing the commotion and gunshots coming from the base,” he said.
By the next morning, the extent of the destruction became evident. “We saw the school they used as their base and military vehicles had been set on fire,” he noted.
The attack is a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram in the region. Despite ongoing military efforts, including a recent joint operation in Kukawa that reportedly killed over 10 insurgents, the group continues to carry out deadly assaults on security forces.
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Efforts to get a response from Lt. Col. A.Y. Jingina, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages. However, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, confirmed the attack and assured the public that an investigation is underway.
“It is confirmed that troops suffered setbacks in operations in the area. An inquiry has been set up to confirm the details of what transpired, after which I will provide the details in due course, please,” Maj. Gen. Buba said.