Four days after Boko Haram militants launched a deadly assault on a military base in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, numerous soldiers remain missing, according to credible security sources.
The attack, which occurred at 4 p.m. on Saturday, targeted the Forward Operating Base in Sabon Gari. The assault involved a large number of insurgents, who overwhelmed the base’s defenses.
Despite ongoing efforts, the military and Borno State government have yet to issue an official statement. However, military insiders revealed that the casualty toll is rising as more bodies are being recovered.
“Some soldiers died en route to the hospital in Maiduguri, while many others remain unaccounted for,” said a military source. “It’s still too early to confirm exact figures, but over 12 bodies have been recovered so far.”
Another source confirmed to Daily Trust that the attackers dislodged the base, carted away equipment, and planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to thwart reinforcements. “The Forward Operations Base of the 25 Task Force Brigade was responsible for securing southern Damboa and curbing Boko Haram and ISWAP activities. Unfortunately, the base was overrun, with soldiers killed, equipment stolen, and others still missing,” the source added.
The base had an operational strength of 110 soldiers, but only about half have been accounted for so far.
The attack comes amid increasing sophistication in insurgent tactics. Two weeks prior, ISWAP fighters used modified drones in an attack on a neighboring base in Wajiroko, a sign of advanced planning and capabilities.
Residents and sources have linked the recent attacks to militants fleeing intensified military operations in the Lake Chad region. Many are believed to have regrouped in Sambisa Forest, joining factions loyal to the late Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.
Efforts to obtain official casualty figures from the Defence Headquarters have been unsuccessful. Calls and messages to Major-General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, remained unanswered as of press time.
The decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has devastated northeastern Nigeria, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. Neighboring countries, including Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, have also been drawn into the conflict, which continues to pose a severe security challenge for the region.
