Extremist fighters on motorcycles launched a deadly assault on a Nigerian military installation close to the Chad border Sunday evening, resulting in the deaths of seven soldiers including the base commander, according to military officials.
The attack on the 242 Battalion barracks in Monguno was carried out by Boko Haram fighters and members of Islamic State West Africa Province, military sources revealed to Reuters. The incident follows a series of coordinated strikes against military facilities throughout Borno State in recent days.
Among the casualties was the base commander, who was just weeks away from retirement, along with six additional soldiers who died when their vehicle hit an explosive device while rushing to support their fellow troops during the firefight, the sources reported.
Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity since they lacked authorization to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that at least 12 attackers were eliminated during the battle at the barracks.
The violence represents an escalation in militant activity across the region, where insurgent groups have intensified their campaigns against military outposts and seized weapons from government forces. This mounting pressure challenges President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to bring an end to the prolonged conflict.
The extremist uprising has persisted for 17 years as militants attempt to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria’s northeast. Humanitarian organizations report that the insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and forced at least 2 million people from their homes, despite extensive military operations aimed at defeating the groups.
