Boko Haram Insurgents Overrun Military Base in Borno, Commanding Officer Killed
Suspected Boko Haram fighters have overrun a military base in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, resulting in the death of the commanding officer and several other personnel. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, saw insurgents launch a coordinated offensive that overwhelmed troops stationed at the facility.
Details of the Deadly Assault
Security sources confirmed that the attackers struck around midnight, engaging soldiers in a fierce battle. The insurgents arrived from multiple directions, gaining control of the camp and forcing troops to withdraw. During the raid, several military vehicles were set ablaze, and the attackers carted away significant quantities of arms and ammunition from the base.
One security source specifically confirmed the death of the commanding officer during the attack, describing it as a major loss for the military. The source declined to provide further details on the exact number of casualties, but indicated that multiple personnel were killed in the assault.
Recent Successful Defense Makes Attack More Painful
The attack comes just weeks after troops had successfully repelled a similar assault on the same base. During that previous incident, soldiers had pushed back the insurgents and recorded casualties among the attackers. The commanding officer had received public commendation for that successful defense, with community members praising the soldiers and sharing messages of support on social media.
Karta Maina Ma'aji Lawan, the lawmaker representing Kukawa Local Government Area in the Borno State House of Assembly, had even visited the base to celebrate with the troops following their earlier victory. Reacting to the latest development, the lawmaker expressed pain that the camp had been overrun this time despite the previous successful defense.
Broader Security Context in Borno State
This incident follows a separate attack by Boko Haram on a military base and an internally displaced persons camp in Ngoshe town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, where soldiers and civilians were reportedly killed. In that attack, over 100 women and children were reportedly abducted by the insurgents.
Meanwhile, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) under Operation HADIN KAI have recently laid to rest soldiers who lost their lives during clashes with Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state. The burial ceremony took place at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri over the weekend.
Governor Calls for Coordinated Offensive
Earlier, Governor Babagana Zulum had urged the military high command to launch a fully coordinated offensive across the Lake Chad region to dismantle Boko Haram and ISWAP hideouts. He delivered this message while hosting the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, during a visit to Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum emphasized that current security gains would not hold unless the armed forces confront the entrenched terrorist cells around the Lake Chad islands. He specifically identified three secret terrorist hideouts that require immediate military attention to prevent further attacks on military installations and civilian populations in Borno State.
