Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, on Saturday, killing dozens of soldiers and vigilantes and seizing military weapons.
The attack, confirmed by security and local sources on Monday, began around 4 p.m. when heavily armed insurgents attacked the base in large numbers, overpowering the troops despite their efforts to defend the facility.
A security source described the assault as one of the most devastating on the base, which has faced over 100 attacks in the past.
“The base has endured over 100 attacks in the past, but this was one of the most devastating. Many soldiers and vigilantes were killed, and the insurgents seized all the armament at the base,” the source disclosed. “They also set operational vehicles and buildings on fire.”
The attackers reportedly used a surveillance drone to gather intelligence before the strike. “At first, we thought the drone was part of a military operation,” the source added.
While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, at least 12 bodies have been recovered. The insurgents are believed to have launched the attack from Mandara Gau in Biu Local Government Area, approximately 25 kilometers away.
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“They have taken over a mango plantation belonging to a former Borno State commissioner, which now serves as their hideout,” the source revealed.
Another security official highlighted the insurgents’ increasing use of surveillance drones, citing similar incidents in the region. “In the last two weeks, they’ve been deploying drones between Chibok and Damboa. A day before Christmas, they attacked another base, injuring six soldiers after conducting aerial surveillance,” the official disclosed.
The military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack.
Daily Post Nigeria.
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