‘Five soldiers killed’ as Boko Haram attacks Borno military bases

Boko Haram fighters have reportedly killed at least five soldiers during attacks on military bases in Borno state.

According to Reuters, the insurgents attacked the base of the 24 Task Force Brigade in the Dikwa area of Borno in the early hours of Tuesday.

The report quoted two soldiers as saying that Boko Haram fighters flew two surveillance drones around the base before the attack.

“We responded effectively this time, with the Nigerian Air Force providing support to pursue them. We killed many of them,” a soldier involved in the battle told the publication via telephone.

The insurgents also reportedly attacked the third battalion base in the Rann area of Kala Balge district, which is 65 kilometres from Dikwa.

A Kala Balge district official told Reuters that at least five soldiers were killed while four sustained gunshot wounds during the attack.

Security sources said the insurgents razed a mine-resistant vehicle, a gun truck, and a Russian-made T-72 tank.

The insurgents were said to have retreated when air force fighter jets arrived.

Markus Kangye, director of defence media operations, did not respond to calls and messages sent to him seeking information about the attack at the time of filing this report.

This is the second attack at military bases within the last 48 hours.

On Monday, at least five soldiers were killed in another attack at a military base in Marte town.

Over the past few months, there has been a resurgence of terrorist attacks in Borno.

Recently, Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, ordered the ban on the sale of petrol in filling stations across Bama LGA to address security challenges.