A soldier is feared dead following a brutal attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack, which occurred on Monday evening, has left one officer confirmed dead and another injured.
According to Usman Tar, the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security in Borno, the assault involved heavy gunfire from the insurgents, targeting the military formation. Local sources revealed that the attack resulted in multiple casualties, with some soldiers left critically injured.
Abba Usman, a resident in Damboa, shared that during the chaos, a military reinforcement team, rushing to the base, inadvertently triggered a landmine, causing a deadly explosion. This explosion has likely added to the number of casualties, though full details remain unclear. “I do not have much information, but I can confirm that there was an attack, and soldiers were killed. We also heard about the bomb explosion when soldiers were rushing to the base,” Usman said.
A military source confirmed the attack but refrained from disclosing the exact number of fatalities, noting that several soldiers had died during the assault. The spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Colonel A. Y Jingina, acknowledged the attack but stated he was unavailable for further comment due to being out of station.
Tar later clarified the situation, stating, “I can confirm there was an IED attack in Wajiroko, under Damboa. Our personnel stepped on an IED, which led to the death of one soldier and another sustaining injuries. It was not an attack by insurgents, but an IED incident.”
This tragic event highlights the ongoing danger faced by Nigerian military forces as they continue to combat the insurgency in the northeast.
