Terrorists Attack Military Base in Borno, Soldiers and Civilians Feared Killed

At least 10 soldiers and four civilians are feared dead following a coordinated attack by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military base in Mairari, Borno State.

The attack, which occurred last Tuesday, took place in Guzamala Local Government Area, approximately 120 to 130 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to credible security sources, the insurgents stormed the military formation in large numbers, engaging troops in a fierce gunbattle that lasted several hours.

Although troops reportedly fought back valiantly and neutralised scores of attackers, the terrorists inflicted heavy casualties and destroyed military equipment, including gun trucks and operational vehicles belonging to both the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

“More than 10 soldiers and four civilians have reportedly been killed after suspected fighters of the Islamic State-backed faction attacked the military formation,” a security source disclosed on condition of anonymity.

Ali Bukar Mairari, a resident who fled the scene, corroborated the reports, stating that more than 11 people were killed and several operational vehicles were set ablaze during the attack.

The Executive Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, Hon. Lawan Sheriff, confirmed the incident but declined to provide specific casualty figures.
Reports of the attack were significantly delayed due to the complete absence of telecommunications networks in the remote area.

The assault on Mairari comes after another recent security breach in the wider Lake Chad region, where terrorists reportedly seized more than 40 locally made fishing boats from fishermen in Tumbun Barebari, an area also known as Abujan Ruwa.

Mairari is strategically important as one of the few towns in the area to have survived several Boko Haram attacks. The town temporarily served as the headquarters of the Guzamala Area Council after terrorists captured the official headquarters in Gudumbali.

The continued presence of insurgents in Gudumbali remains a source of frustration for local leaders.

The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, who hails from Guzamala, has repeatedly expressed concern over the inability of security agencies to reclaim the council headquarters. However, his appeals have yet to produce the desired military action.

Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him had not been answered at the time of reporting.

The military high command has yet to release an official casualty figure or issue a formal statement on the Mairari attack, as security operations and reinforcement efforts continue in the troubled northern fringes of the Lake Chad region.
(Daily Trust)