A series of coordinated deadly attacks on military bases in Borno state by terrorists have claimed the lives of more than forty Nigerian soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel.
The terrorists simultaneously attacked four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte Town. The attacks were carried out by a faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is backed by the Islamic State.
According to SaharaReporters, the terrorist group, formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, carried out the attack between 10 pm on Thursday night and 3 am on Friday.
The terrorists came in different groups and could not be counted, fired at the military facilities sporadically, causing numerous casualties.
According to the media outlet, multiple sources confirmed that more than 40 corpses of dead soldiers have been recovered and among those killed was a senior officer identified as Lieutenant Colonel SI Iliyasu. Iliyasu, who is the Commanding Officer of 222 Battalion, and some of his men were killed in Konduga by the terrorists.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, is currently in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, over the incident.
“We lost over 40 soldiers to those attacks. It’s so sad; we still can’t find some of our men, can’t say if they are alive or dead, but over 40 bodies have been recovered as of now,” SaharaReporters quoted a military source familiar with the development as saying.
“It’s so much that the Chief Army Staff had to pay an emergency visit to Borno this morning; right now, he’s at the Headquarters Theatre command in Maiduguri for a more brief on the whole attacks.”
Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria. The attack of security personnel and civilians has intensified in recent times.
During the invasion, the terrorists were said to have laid siege to some bases for hours, burning camps and military equipment without any help or intervention from the Nigerian Air Force.
Many of the terrorists were also reportedly killed in some bases while the soldiers stationed at these bases were trying to repel the attacks.
The latest attack happened just a day after Boko Haram terrorists killed an unspecified number of civilians and also abducted hundreds of women after an attack on a military installation in Gworza local government.
Earlier in the month, many soldiers, including a Major, Ibrahim Mairiga, weregruesomely murdered in an attack on the Forward Base operations at Banki junction, along Bama/Gwaza Road in the state.
“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 the 7 Div military hospital in Maiduguri,” a high-ranking source said.