Boko Haram kills five soldiers in Borno military base attack

Troops

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked a Forward Operating Base in the Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, killing five soldiers in a surprise raid on Monday morning.

Military sources told The PUNCH that the insurgents stormed the base at dawn, catching the troops off guard and engaging them in a fierce gun battle that lasted nearly an hour.

“They took the base by surprise,” said a soldier who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The gun duel lasted for about an hour before they overran the position. We lost five men — a Kaduna guy, Shehu; a Delta guy, Patrick; Franklin; and two others whose full names I can’t recall. Most of us know each other by nicknames.”

The fallen soldiers were reported to be within the ranks of private and lance corporal.

Efforts by The PUNCH to reach the Army Public Relations Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Reuben Kovangiya, for an official comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to messages.

In a separate incident the same day, an improvised explosive device, believed to have been planted by Boko Haram insurgents, detonated along the Damboa-Maiduguri Road, killing two travellers.

Local sources said the victims, believed to be staff members of the Damboa Local Education Authority, were transporting mangoes in a Toyota Hiace van when the vehicle hit the IED. Both died instantly.

The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed awareness of the incident but said details were still being gathered.

“I do not have the comprehensive information yet. Once I’m done verifying the data, I will reach out,” he told our correspondent.

The latest explosion comes just weeks after eight passengers were killed, and 11 others injured when a commercial bus triggered another roadside bomb on the same Damboa-Maiduguri route. Punch