More than 12 bodies of Nigerian soldiers and vigilantes have been recovered following a Boko Haram assault on a military base in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack, which took place on Saturday at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Sabon Gari, has left several personnel unaccounted for, with search and recovery efforts still ongoing.
According to a military source who spoke to Daily Trust on Tuesday, âMore bodies are being recovered. Some died on their way to the hospital in Maiduguri, while many soldiers and vigilantes remain missing in action. Itâs too early to determine the total number of casualties, but over 12 bodies have been recovered so far.â
The insurgents, reportedly in large numbers, overran the base, seizing weapons and destroying equipment. A reinforcement team from the 25 Task Force Brigade faced multiple ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), further hampering rescue operations.
One source revealed that the FOB had a strength of 110 soldiers, but only about half have been accounted for. The attack, described as highly sophisticated, included the use of drones by the insurgents, a tactic that has raised serious concerns about their increasing operational capabilities.
Adamu, a local resident, linked the surge in attacks to insurgents fleeing from joint military operations in the Lake Chad region. âWhen the onslaught became unbearable for the terrorists in Lake Chad, many escaped and joined those operating in this area,â he explained.
This latest assault underscores the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram in Nigeriaâs northeast, despite ongoing military efforts to combat the insurgency.
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