An unconfirmed number of soldiers have been reportedly killed, and many others are still missing when suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists attacked a military Base in the Damboa local government area of Borno State.
According to reliable sources, at approximately 00:00hrs of 4th January 2025, an unspecified number of suspected Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists onboard motorcycles and gun trucks stormed Sabon Gari General Security Formation, located approximately 50km south of Damboa.
A few minutes into the attack, the armed terrorists, according to intelligence sources, took over the military deployment after the troops abandoned their positions and fled to safety.
“Notwithstanding, the Quick Response Group reinforcement team composed of General Security Forces /CJTF/Vigilante/Hybrid from Damboa backed up with multiple heavy armaments, swiftly dispatched to the location for support.
„While on their way, a vigilante vehicle ran on an improvised explosive device (IED); unfortunately, the Damboa overall top vigilante commander sustained serious injury and was evacuated to Maiduguri for medical treatment, while the rest of the team proceeded to the location.
„ However, based on intelligence gathered, immediately on arrival at the location, the reinforcement team exchanged terrible gunfire with the armed terrorist group that forced them to take their heels and the troops instantly reclaimed their camp,“ said the sources.
The sources added that the terrorists razed many buildings and military operational vehicles during the attack that lasted over two hours.
“25 Taskforce Brigade was attacked during the weekend with so many casualties; so far, we have recovered over seven bodies. The terrorist group invaded the camp‘s Forward Operational Base ( FOB ) Sabon Gari around 4am on Saturday, using various weapons,“ the intelligence sources further said.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial district at the National Assembly, during his tour of the district‘s nine local government areas, including Damboa, accused some insiders from the local governments of providing information and collaborating with terrorists to carry out attacks in the areas.
The Senator listed the local government areas where the terrorists are still attacking residents and the military with the help of the informants, including Damboa, Gwoza, Askira-Uba and some parts of Biu.
In Gwoza local government, the Senator decried that the collaboration of the residents, especially the youths, does not stop at providing information, but that some female residents do load food items in food warmers with condiments to the terrorists under the guise of going to the farm, only to deliver the items and return with without the food warmers.
As of the filing of this report, no statement or response has been issued by any of the state‘s security agencies regarding the Damboa attack.
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