Boko Haram militants disguised as herders launched a deadly attack on Cameroonian military positions in Nigeria’s border town of Wulgo, killing at least 20 troops, local security sources reported Tuesday.
The attackers, who had infiltrated Wulgo under the cover of night, struck around 1:00 a.m., engaging troops in a fierce two-hour battle before overrunning their bases.
The militants seized heavy weaponry, including Soviet-made Shilka anti-aircraft guns, and set fire to military structures and vehicles before retreating.
Eyewitnesses in the nearby Nigerian town of Gamboru reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions during the assault.
Some residents, awake for Ramadan vigils, saw Cameroonian military trucks transporting bodies of the fallen soldiers across the border Tuesday morning.
According to security sources, the terrorists had blended into Gamboru’s weekly market the day before, posing as traders and herders.
Under the guise of civilians, they moved into Wulgo overnight and launched their surprise attack.
Boko Haram has intensified its operations in the Lake Chad region following the loss of its Sambisa Forest stronghold to a rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in 2021.
The group has repeatedly targeted Wulgo and Waza, abducting and executing civilians suspected of aiding military forces.
The decade-long militant insurgency has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced millions across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
In response, a regional military coalition was formed to combat the growing threat.
However, Tuesday’s attack underscores the continued challenges in securing the volatile border region.