No fewer than four soldiers were killed when suspected Boko Haram fighters launched a deadly attack on the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, a town in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday around 2:00 a.m., came just hours after governors from the northeast held their 11th regional meeting in Damaturu, the state capital.
The meeting focused on strengthening security across the troubled region, but the assault underscored the persistent threat from insurgents.
Sources within the military noted that the fighters arrived from the western axis of the military base under the cover of darkness and opened fire using heavy weapons. An officer who managed to escape the attack told our correspondent that the troops were caught off guard.
“We were taken off guard by the heavy explosion and gunfire, but we stood our ground. A lot of our fighting equipment has been destroyed during the encounter. Yes, we lost four of our men, just as they also recorded casualties during the fierce battle that lasted for hours,” the source said.
Along with the tragic loss of personnel, several pieces of military hardware were reportedly destroyed or stolen during the raid. The soldiers involved in the operation are part of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, a military initiative targeting insurgent groups in Nigeria’s northeast.
The Nigerian Army confirmed the incident through a brief post on its verified Facebook page. “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI are currently in a fierce battle against an ISWAP attack at Buni Gari, Yobe State. Details later,” the statement read.
