BREAKING: 40 Nigerian Soldiers, Lieutenant Colonel Brutally Murdered as Terrorists Overrun Military Bases in Borno

More than 40 Nigerian soldiers, including a commanding officer, have been confirmed killed following coordinated attacks by militants of the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), on several military formations in Borno State.

Ejes Gist News gathered that the deadly assaults, which targeted four military bases across the state, occurred between late Thursday night and the early hours of Friday, marking one of the deadliest attacks against Nigerian troops in recent months.

Simultaneous Assaults on Four Military Facilities

According to multiple security sources, the insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on military facilities located in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte towns. The gunmen reportedly arrived in large numbers and in different groups, unleashing heavy gunfire on the bases and causing significant casualties among the troops.

Sources said the attacks began around 10 p.m. on Thursday in Konduga, Mainok, and Jakana, while another assault was carried out at about 3 a.m. on Friday in Marte town.

Grim Toll: Over 40 Soldiers Killed

Military insiders confirmed that over 40 bodies of fallen soldiers have so far been recovered, though the search for missing personnel is still ongoing. Among those killed in the attacks was Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion. He was reportedly killed alongside several of his men during the assault on the military base in Konduga.

“We lost over 40 soldiers to those attacks. It’s extremely painful. Some of our men are still missing, and we cannot yet say whether they are alive or dead, but more than 40 bodies have been recovered so far.” – Military source

Military Assets Destroyed, Bases Overrun

According to military officials, the terrorists also destroyed significant military assets during the raids. Armoured tanks, operational vehicles, and other equipment were reportedly set ablaze by the insurgents, who also carted away an unspecified quantity of ammunition from some of the bases.

One source revealed that the militants temporarily overran certain positions during the attacks, holding them for several hours due to the absence of immediate air support from the Nigerian Air Force.

“During these different attacks, many Boko Haram members were also killed, including some of their commanders,” the source said. “However, the terrorists managed to take over some of the bases for hours without air support. As they usually do, they burned the camps along with military equipment.”

Strategic Locations Targeted

The locations of the attacked bases highlight the strategic spread of the insurgents’ operations:

• Konduga: Lies along the Bama corridor close to Maiduguri
• Mainok and Jakana: Situated along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway, a critical route linking Borno to neighbouring Yobe State
• Marte: Located beyond Dikwa Local Government Area near the border with Chad

Security analysts say the coordinated nature of the assaults suggests growing operational capacity among ISWAP fighters in the region.

Army Chief Makes Emergency Trip to Maiduguri

In response to the attacks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, made an emergency trip to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday to assess the situation and receive operational briefings from commanders at the Theatre Command Headquarters.

Wave of Violence Across Borno

The attacks also come amid a surge in violence across parts of Borno State, where both civilians and security personnel have increasingly come under attack from insurgent groups.

Less than 24 hours before the latest assaults on the military bases, Boko Haram fighters reportedly killed several civilians and abducted women during an attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area.

During that incident, the militants first stormed a military post before launching attacks on residents in the community around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. They also reportedly attacked the 82 Division Task Force Battalion under the 26 Brigade and raided a camp housing internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Ejes Gist News learned that Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, confirmed that more than 100 residents were missing or abducted during the Ngoshe attack, while thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, were displaced and are currently taking refuge in Pulka community.

Presidential Response

President Bola Tinubu has expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by the terrorist attacks. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President mourned the loss of innocent lives, including military personnel.

President Tinubu described the attack by the terrorists as a heartless assault on hapless citizens and urged Nigerians in Borno and elsewhere not to succumb to fear. He commended the military for their swift response and directed the armed forces to intensify their efforts to protect civilians nationwide and prevent attacks on military installations in the North East.

Previous Attacks Underscore Persistent Threat

The wave of attacks has raised renewed concerns over the security situation in Nigeria’s northeast, despite repeated claims by the military that the insurgency has been largely degraded.

Earlier in the month, another attack on a military formation resulted in the deaths of several soldiers, including a Major identified as Ibrahim Mairiga. The troops were stationed at a forward operating base at Banki Junction along the Bama–Gwoza road when they came under heavy attack around 4 a.m.

A senior military officer had confirmed that the bodies of the slain soldiers were later transferred to the 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri.

Similarly, in February, insurgents attacked an army outpost in Jakana town in Kaga Local Government Area, burning armoured tanks and operational vehicles while looting ammunition from the facility.

In another earlier incident, seven soldiers, including a newly promoted lieutenant colonel, were killed in an ambush while traveling from Maiduguri to Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area. Military sources said the convoy came under heavy fire after insurgents detonated explosives and opened fire on the troops.

Ongoing Search and Recovery Efforts

Beyond the confirmed fatalities, several soldiers injured in the latest attacks are currently receiving treatment at military medical facilities, while an unspecified number of personnel remain unaccounted for. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as troops comb the surrounding areas for missing colleagues.   Also Read : BREAKING: Police Dismiss Popular PRO ACP Benjamin Hundeyin Six Months After Resumption

Expert Analysis: A New Phase of Insurgency?

Security experts warn that the resurgence of large-scale assaults on military positions could signal a new phase of insurgent activity in the region, raising urgent questions about operational strategy and the need for improved intelligence, logistics, and air support in ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

Ulf Laessing, with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that recent attacks take advantage of the Nigerian army’s difficulties in controlling large swaths of the country where jihadi groups operate. Militants are also benefiting from increased cross-border cooperation between their groups and the use of drones to scout out their targets before attacking.

“The army is fighting a ghost — fighters descending with motorbikes on villages and disappearing into the bush before the army can respond in time,” said Laessing.

Casualty Figures at a Glance

Confirmed Soldiers Killed	40+ (including Lieutenant Colonel)
Senior Officer Killed	Lt. Col. S.I. Iliyasu, CO 222 Battalion
Bases Attacked	Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, Marte
Timing of Attacks	Late Thursday – Early Friday
Status	Search for missing personnel ongoing

International Context

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups operating in Nigeria are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa, as well as other “bandit” groups that specialize in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining

Recently, the crisis has worsened to include other militants from the neighbouring Sahel region, including the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.   Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations, with analysts suggesting not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens.

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Disclaimer: Ejes Gist News Nigeria reports this information based on multiple security sources and official statements. The situation remains fluid as search and recovery operations continue. Civilian and military casualties have been confirmed by officials, though final figures may change as more information becomes available.

 

For questions or corrections, contact our editorial team at [email protected].

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