No fewer than five Nigerian soldiers were feared killed and dozens more missing after Boko Haram fighters invaded a Nigerian military base in Borno State.
The attack on April 26 occurred at a forward operating base in Mararabar Kimba, an agrarian community roughly 130 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
The base was manned by the Nigerian Army 254 Task Force Battalion under the 25 Task Force Brigade, a crucial outpost in the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’.
At least eight soldiers were gravely wounded and heavy military hardware was carted away in the attack, military sources disclosed.
The source noted that soldiers put up resistance at the early stage of the attack, but many later fled into the bush due to faulty weapons and combat trucks.
The number of missing troops could not be established as at Tuesday morning, but a military source estimated dozens.
It was also unclear whether some of the troops had returned to base, but a search and rescue team had been activated, sources also said.
All the officers killed or wounded in action were evacuated to a military medical facility in Maiduguri on April 27.
Though the military was yet to confirm the attack, it was learnt the insurgents entered the base in a convoy of 15 gun trucks and left with military trucks, binoculars, grenades, assault rifles and ammunition, sources said.
An official of the military said the military high command “was still studying the attack’s aftermath.”
Recall that many Boko Haram insurgents had been reportedly killed amidst a military push to drive them out of their remaining strongholds and hideouts across Nigeria’s North-east, particularly n the fringes of Lake Chad.
Meanwhile, following a suspected Boko Haram attack on Monday at a Madagali community in Adamawa State, more than 20 people were feared killed and several others injured.
Locals said suspected Boko Haram’s gunmen drove in a truck accompanied by large numbers of insurgents on motorcycles into Kudakaya village in Madagali at about 7 p.m.
Police Public Relations Officer of Adamawa Command, Othman Abubakar, confirmed the attack.
He said, “I was briefed that Boko Haram insurgents have attacked the village. I am yet to get the casualty figures, but security operatives have been deployed and are on the top of the situation”.
A local vigilante who spoke under condition of anonymity said more than 22 corpses were counted while many persons who were severely wounded.
A former chairman of Madagali Local Government, Abawu Ularamu said, “The terrorists burnt several shops and many homes. They also stole food”.
“We are living in an atmosphere of despair and agony. Over 20 were killed and many injured.
“There is no doubt the attackers came from Sambisa. We experience such periodic attacks from Boko Haram, who usually look for food.
“Already residents are fleeing for fear of that they (Boko Haram) are not far away from us and they may strike again”.
The insurgents had in the last week attacked three villages. On their way from one of the attacks, they ran into a group of vigilantes on patrol in Kuda village, who engaged them in a shoot-out, killing two of the attackers.”
