Unconfirmed number of soldiers have been reportedly killed and many others missing when suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists attacked a military base in the Damboa local government area of Borno State.
Reliable sources said unspecified number of suspected the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists onboard motorcycles and gun trucks at approximately 00:00hrs of 4th January 2025 stormed Sabon Gari General Security Formation located approximately 50km south of Damboa.
Few minutes into the attack, the armed the terrorists, according to the intelligence sources, took over the military deployment after the troops abandoned their positions and fled into safety.
“Notwithstanding, the Quick Response Group reinforcement team comprised of General Security Forces /CJTF/Vigilante/Hybrid from Damboa backed up with multiple heavy armaments swiftly dispatched to the location for support.
“While on their way, a vigilante vehicle ran on an improvised explosive device (IED), unfortunately, the Damboa overall top vigilante commander sustained serious injury and was evacuated to Maiduguri for medical treatment, while the rest of the team proceeded to the location.
“However, based on intelligence gathered, immediately on arrival at the location, the reinforcement team exchanged terrible gunfire with the armed terrorists group that forced them to take to their heels and the troops instantly reclaimed their camp,” said the sources.
The sources added that the terrorists razed buildings and military operational vehicles during the attack that lasted over two hours.
“25 Taskforce Brigade was attacked during the weekend with so many casualties, so far, we have recovered over seven bodies. The terrorists group invaded the camp’s Foward Operational Base (FOB) Sabon Gari around 4am on Saturday, using various weapons,” the intelligence sources further said.
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial district, Ali Ndume had during his tour of the nine local government areas of the district which include Damboa, accused some insiders from the local governments of providing information and collaborating with the terrorists to carry out attacks in the areas.
The Senator listed the local government areas the terrorists are still attacking residents and the military with the help of the informants to include Damboa, Gwoza, Askira-Uba and some parts of Biu.
In Gwoza local government, Senator Ndume decried the collaboration of the residents, especially the youths for providing information, but that some female residents do load food items in food warmers with condiments to the terrorists under the guise of going to the farm.
No statement or response has been issued by any of the security agencies in the state over the Damboa attack as at the time of filing this report.
