Over 40 Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed killed during attacks by militants of the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, in Borno state.
Reporters had on Friday exclusively reported how the terrorists simultaneously attacked four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte town between 10 pm on Thursday night and 3 am on Friday.
They reportedly fired at the military facilities sporadically, causing numerous casualties.
The gunmen also came in different groups and could not be counted.
Giving an update on Saturday, multiple sources told SaharaReporters that more than 40 corpses of dead soldiers have been recovered.
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.
Reporters learnt that 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,” a military source told SaharaReporters.
“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 more brief on the whole attacks.”
Both security agents and civilians have suffered several attacks at the hands of terrorists in Borno in recent times. Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses. In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents.
In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents.
Between 10 pm on Thursday night and 3 am on Friday, the terrorists simultaneously attacked four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte town in Borno State.
They reportedly fired at the military facilities sporadically, causing numerous casualties.
The gunmen also came in different groups and could not be counted.
During the attacks, the gunmen reportedly burned armored tanks, military vehicles, and made away with unquantifiable ammunition.
According to one of the sources, the military also killed scores of Boko Haram terrorists while repelling the attacks.
“Several attacks on military bases in Operation Hadin Kai by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana around 10:30 pm last night while in Marte town around 03:00 am on Friday, the attacks on military bases keep increasing on a daily basis within the North East operation,” a military source told Reporters.
“One is along Bama and close to Maiduguri, I mean the base attacked in Konduga, while Mainok and Jakana town are both along Maiduguri/Damaturu road. Marte town, where another base was attacked, is after Dikwa Local Government Area, close to the Chad border.
“During these different attacks, many Boko Haram members were killed, including their commanders. I don’t have the actual numbers of soldiers killed as well, but the terrorists took over some of these bases for hours without air support from the Nigerian Air Force.
“As they usually do, they burned the camps with all the military equipment.”
This incident comes less than 24 hours after Boko Haram insurgents killed an unspecified number of civilians and abducted several women after launching an attack on a military post in Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.
Reporters had exclusively reported how the terrorists first stormed the military base before unleashing violence on residents at about 1am on Wednesday.
The militants invaded the 82 Div TF Battalion under 26 BDE, and also launched an assault on a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the community.
Earlier in the month, many soldiers, including a Major, Ibrahim Mairiga, were killed 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 7 Div military hospital in Maiduguri,” a high-ranking source said.
In February, another military base in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, was attacked. During the assault, the gunmen burnt armoured tanks and military vehicles and made away with unquantifiable ammunition.
“An attack occurred this morning, 06/02/2025, at an Army outpost along Maiduguri/Damaturu Road, Jakana town, by Boko Haram terrorists, with many casualties recorded on our side,” a source had told SaharaReporters.
A few days before the attack, seven military personnel, including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel, were killed in an ambush by the terrorists.
News had reported that Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed was leading a troop of soldiers from Maiduguri to Damasak, Mobbar Local Government area of Borno State, when they came under attack by the insurgents on Monday, January 26, 2025.
Military sources said the terrorists used explosives and heavy gunfire.
Apart from the dead bodies recovered, many other soldiers were seriously injured, while a yet-to-be-ascertained number of personnel are also still missing.
About the Author
