4 Soldiers Reported Killed As ISWAP Attacks Military Base In Borno

No fewer than four soldiers were reportedly killed and unspecified numbers wounded when terrorists of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) attacked a military base in Damboa local government area of Borno State on Sunday.

LEADERSHIP gathered that terrorists rode on motorcycles and stormed the remote village of Warja between Sabon Gari in Damboa local government area in the evening of Sunday, killing the soldiers and setting ablaze military hardware.

A security source said the terrorists overran the formation and burnt down armoury and other operational vehicles.

He said, “It was a devastating attack on the base. We lost gallant soldiers. Unfortunately, the attackers set ablaze the entire base. Thereafter, they looted and carted away our ammunition.”

A Civilian JTF source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the terrorists came in large numbers and overpowered the personnel.

He added that the operational vehicles burnt include two armoured tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), two utility vehicles and caches of ammunition.

Similarly, three officers of the Nigerian Police sustained injuries following a landmine explosion along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road in Borno State.

The explosives were suspected to have been planted by the ISWAP terrorists.

A counter-insurgency expert in the the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama disclosed this on Wednesday in a post on his X handle.

Makama said intelligence sources disclosed that the incident occurred at about 3pm near Garin Kuturu village, between Auno and Jakana, while a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol team was on routine duty.

According to the report, the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated as the officers stepped on it, damaging their patrol vehicle and creating a crater measuring three feet deep and five feet wide.

“Bomb Disposal (EOD-CBRN) team was deployed to cordon off the area and conduct a thorough sweep for secondary explosives, but none were found. The affected area was declared safe for road users,” Makama said.