Militants attacked two army bases in northeastern Borno state on Tuesday, killing at least five Nigerian soldiers, security sources and a district official reported. This comes just a day after a deadly assault on troops in the region.
The attacks are part of a wider surge in insurgent activity in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, where Islamist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been particularly active this year. The region has been the epicenter of Nigeria’s ongoing battle with militant groups for over 15 years.
The first attack occurred around 1 a.m. on Tuesday (0000 GMT) when militants, reportedly flying surveillance drones, targeted the 24 Task Force Brigade base in Dikwa district. This base also hosted troops from the 153 Battalion stationed in nearby Marte district, which was attacked on Monday, resulting in at least five soldiers’ deaths.
“We responded effectively this time, with the Nigerian Air Force providing support to pursue them. We killed many of them,” one soldier involved in the battle said in a phone interview.
At the same time, militants mounted on trucks with machine guns launched an assault on the army’s 3rd Battalion base in the Rann area of Kala Balge district, located about 65 kilometers (45 miles) from Dikwa. According to security sources, the insurgents set fire to a mine-resistant vehicle, a gun truck, and a Russian-made T-72 tank before retreating when fighter jets from the Nigerian Air Force arrived. Five soldiers were killed in the attack, and four others were wounded by gunfire, a district official confirmed.
In response to the growing violence, Borno state governor Babagana Zulum expressed his commitment to supporting the military and security forces. “I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state,” he said.
Governor Zulum had previously warned that jihadist groups, which once controlled large areas of northeastern Nigeria, were regaining strength. He highlighted the increasing insurgent activity in Borno state, despite the military’s efforts to push them out in previous years.