Africa-Press. The Nigerian military announced that Islamist militants backed by armed drones attacked a military base in Borno State in the country’s northeast at dawn on Thursday, killing a number of soldiers.
Army spokesperson Sani Uba said, “The attack targeted the Sabon Gari base before dawn, and the attackers managed to breach part of its perimeter briefly,” adding that “during the clashes, drone strikes destroyed several military vehicles, including an excavator and a trailer.”
He added that the use of drones by the “Islamic State–West Africa” group represents “a dangerous escalation” in the pace of violence in the region.
Uba also confirmed that the army regained control after reinforcements arrived, repelled the attack, and began pursuing the militants.
He noted that some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) “paid a heavy price,” without providing details on their numbers.
Security sources, for their part, reported that at least nine soldiers and two members of the civilian force were killed, and around sixteen others were wounded.
The operation is the second attack recorded in Borno this week, despite the army’s progress this year toward insurgent strongholds as part of a renewed campaign.
It is worth noting that Boko Haram and the Islamic State–West Africa group continue to carry out large-scale attacks, taking advantage of rugged terrain, porous borders, and a weak government presence, while Borno remains the center of an insurgency that has persisted for 17 years.
