Nigeria: Islamist militants storm army base, kill numerous soldiers, torch tanks and vehicles, and capture ammunition

Image: Jihad Watch

In the early hours of Thursday midnight, a major security breach occurred in Borno State when Boko Haram insurgents launched a devastating attack on the Nigerian Army’s 152 Task Force Battalion base in Banki town, situated within the Bama Local Government Area. The militants overran the military facility, overpowering the stationed troops and forcing them to retreat.

Although the exact number of casualties remains unclear, multiple sources confirmed that several Nigerian soldiers lost their lives in the fierce assault. The 152 Task Force Battalion, which plays a crucial role in Operation Hadin Kai—the Nigerian Army’s ongoing counter-insurgency mission in the North-East—was left severely compromised in the aftermath of the raid.

Eyewitness accounts and intelligence reports indicate that the attackers not only engaged the troops in heavy gunfire but also set fire to military assets. Armoured tanks and vehicles were torched, while a large cache of ammunition and weapons reportedly fell into the hands of the insurgents. The scale of the losses is still being assessed, but the damage is described as significant.

This incident stands in sharp contrast to repeated claims by the Nigerian military leadership that Boko Haram has been largely defeated and its operational capacity reduced. Critics argue that such official statements often downplay the gravity of the situation, masking the persistent threat the group poses in the region.

Since the onset of the insurgency, Boko Haram has been responsible for over 100,000 deaths and the displacement of millions of civilians, particularly across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. The humanitarian toll remains staggering, with countless communities uprooted and forced into refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

Meanwhile, Nigerian soldiers themselves have frequently voiced grievances over the conditions under which they operate. Many have alleged that they are poorly equipped, inadequately supplied, and often sent into battle against Boko Haram fighters who wield more sophisticated weaponry. Some have gone further, accusing their superiors of neglect and mismanagement, leaving frontline troops vulnerable to deadly ambushes such as the one in Banki.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)