Suspected Islamist militants launched an attack on a Nigerian army base early Monday in Borno state, capturing soldiers and seizing ammunition, according to two security sources.
The assault occurred in the Marte district, a region plagued by insurgency. A soldier who survived the attack reported that militants on motorbikes and gun trucks besieged the 153 Task Force Battalion base around 0200 GMT. The Nigerian troops retreated to a nearby brigade in Dikwa district, regrouped, and managed to retake the base. However, several soldiers were feared dead, and others were reported missing.
The attack is part of a recent surge in violence by Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have been employing drones and explosives on key roads, raising concerns of a jihadist resurgence.
A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which assists the military, stated that the militants seized ammunition and destroyed the army’s anti-mine vehicles. The military is still searching for the missing soldiers and has not yet confirmed the death toll.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, referred inquiries to the Defense Headquarters, which has not yet responded.
Experts believe that the recent uptick in attacks is due to a lull in the conflict between Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as the groups’ adoption of advanced aerial technology.
