Boko Haram Overruns Nigerian Army Base in Borno: Soldiers Killed, Captured in Overnight Ambush
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In a major security breach early Monday morning, suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly attack on a Nigerian Army base in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, killing an undisclosed number of soldiers and capturing several others.
Media reports quoted local and military sources as confirming that the assault targeted the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the 153 Task Force Battalion around 3:00 a.m.
The insurgents, believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), reportedly stormed the base in large numbers using gun trucks and motorcycles.
“The troops were overwhelmed and dislodged. Many soldiers were killed, some captured, and others fled towards Dikwa,” said a security source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The insurgents also reportedly destroyed several armored vehicles and carted away weapons and military supplies during the raid. The number of casualties remains unverified as of the time of publication, but eyewitnesses and local sources describe the attack as one of the most devastating in recent months.
Marte, located approximately 38 kilometers from Dikwa, has long been a contested zone between Nigerian forces and insurgent groups. Residents in Dikwa reported hearing heavy gunfire and seeing a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet flying overhead in response to the attack.
There has been no official statement from the Nigerian military regarding the incident.
The attack is the latest in a series of escalating assaults by ISWAP and Boko Haram in Nigeria’s North East, despite ongoing military operations aimed at neutralizing insurgent threats in the region.
Just four months earlier, a similar attack in Malam-Fatori left at least 20 soldiers dead.
Security analysts warn that the increasing frequency of such raids raises concerns about the operational capabilities of the insurgents and the readiness of Nigerian forces stationed in remote conflict zones.
As the military scrambles to regroup and assess losses, citizens and advocacy groups are calling on the federal government to improve frontline intelligence, reinforce supply chains to vulnerable bases, and enhance troop morale to prevent future occurrences.
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