A deadly attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State has left several soldiers feared dead. The attack, which happened on Monday evening, led to heavy casualties among the troops stationed in the area.
Local sources revealed that the insurgents stormed the base, firing indiscriminately and causing panic among both the soldiers and residents nearby. Although the exact number of fatalities remains unclear, multiple reports indicate that several soldiers were killed, while others sustained serious injuries.
A resident of Damboa, Abba Usman, noted that the situation worsened when military reinforcements heading to the scene of the attack encountered an explosive device, resulting in further casualties.
“I do not have much information, but I can confirm that there was an attack and soldiers were killed. Here, we also heard about how soldiers rushing to the base for reinforcement stepped on something like a bomb, and it exploded,” Usman said.
A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the attack but declined to provide specific details on the number of casualties. “There was an attack, many soldiers were killed, but the figure is currently not known,” the source stated.
When contacted for a response, the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. A.Y. Jingina, said via text, “Please, I am out of station, and Sabon Gari is under Sector 2.”
Meanwhile, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, acknowledged the incident but described it as an accident rather than a direct attack by insurgents.
“I can confirm there was an IED attack in a place called Wajiroko (under Damboa). What happened was that our military personnel stepped on an IED. We lost one, and one sustained an injury. It was not an attack; it was an IED our soldiers stepped on,” Tar explained.
In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called on military commanders across the country to collaborate with key stakeholders in their regions to strengthen security efforts. Speaking at the opening of the First Senior Command and Leadership Seminar in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, Oluyede urged commanders to work closely with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders to address rising security challenges.
“These stakeholders are pivotal to addressing the prevailing security threats within your areas of responsibilities. It is also pertinent that you strategically apply situational awareness and strategic communication skills when engaging these stakeholders, so that you can foster mutual respect and build teamwork. This integrated approach is not only key to addressing our immediate security threats. It can also contribute significantly to long-term national stability,” he said.
The seminar, which aims to equip senior military leaders with modern security strategies, was attended by top officials, including Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by Deputy Governor Emmanuel Akabe. The Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, Maj. Gen. Hilary Nzan, also commended the participants, noting that innovative and strategic thinking is essential for improving military operations in the country.
