Boko Haram Attack on Borno Army Base Kills 8 Soldiers, CJTF Members

Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military base in Borno State in the early hours of Thursday, leaving at least five soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) dead.

The attack on Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau in Biu Local Government Area occurred around 3 a.m. on June 5, with the terrorists attempting to overrun the facility before troops mounted a fierce counter-offensive that forced them to retreat.

Military authorities confirmed the casualties, with several other personnel wounded during the encounter. The wounded were immediately airlifted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai for medical treatment.

Lt. Col. Haruna Sani, Acting Media Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, described the attack as a desperate move by the terrorists, who have come under increasing pressure from sustained military operations in the region.

“The troops responded gallantly, repelling the attack and inflicting heavy casualties on the fleeing terrorists,” Lt. Col. Sani said in a statement. “The situation is now under control, and patrols have been intensified in the area.”

Military Describes Attack as Act of Desperation

The military characterised the assault as evidence of the terrorists’ “growing desperation,” noting that recent operational successes have significantly degraded their capacity to launch coordinated attacks on military formations.

Sources told Channels TV that the insurgents arrived in large numbers, armed with heavy weapons, but met stiff resistance from the troops stationed at the base. The CJTF members, who serve as local scouts and intelligence gatherers for the military, were particularly targeted.

Biu LGA has witnessed a resurgence of Boko Haram activity in recent months, with the group exploiting gaps in security coverage to target vulnerable communities and military outposts.

Security analysts say the attack highlights the evolving tactics of the insurgents, who have shifted from large-scale territorial grabs to hit-and-run assaults on military positions. The use of Forward Operating Base Mandaragirau as a staging ground for operations against the insurgents made it a high-value target, they noted.

The attack comes during broader concerns about the security situation in the North-East, where combined military and multinational task force operations have significantly reduced the footprint of insurgent groups but have not entirely eliminated the threat. The military has assured the public that it remains committed to degrading the capacity of terrorist groups operating in the region.

Sources: Channels TV, Punch NG, Legit NG, NewsPosl