Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched an overnight assault on a military formation in the Mairari community of Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State, with several soldiers feared dead.
According to local sources, the attack commenced at about midnight on Tuesday and involved a fierce exchange of gunfire lasting over two hours, raising concerns of casualties on both sides.
Speaking exclusively to The PUNCH on Wednesday, Guzamala Local Government Area Chairman Umar Sheriff confirmed the incident, assuring that no civilians sustained injuries during the attack.
According to the source, the assailaints specifically targeted the military post.
He said, “The incident occurred last night around 12 am. Though I don’t have statistics regarding the casualties yet, because it’s not everything we are told. It’s a security matter. But I know that no civilian was killed.”
He described the raid as a major assault, noting that the region had not experienced an incident of that magnitude in a long time.
Backstory…
Military bases have increasingly become targets because attacks can disrupt security operations, inflict casualties on troops and provide insurgents with opportunities to seize weapons and ammunition.
Although Nigerian forces have conducted sustained offensives under Operation Hadin Kai, insurgents continue to exploit remote locations and gaps in security to launch assaults.
In April and May of 2026, terrorists launched separate attacks on military bases in Borno, Kwara and Yobe respectively, killing at least six soldiers and officers combined.
Meanwhile, the latest attack comes just over a week after ISWAP fighters attacked the 101 Special Forces Battalion in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on October 6. The military said troops repelled that assault with air support and killed more than 25 insurgents, while acknowledging that soldiers were also killed.
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