Suspected Boko Haram militants launched a deadly surprise attack on a Forward Operating Base in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State early Monday, killing five soldiers in a fierce gun battle.
Military sources revealed that the insurgents overran the base after an hour-long firefight, catching the troops off guard at dawn. The slain soldiers, mostly privates and lance corporals, were identified by their colleagues through nicknames.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Nigerian Army’s Operation Hadin Kai were unsuccessful as the spokesperson, Capt. Reuben Kovangiya, did not respond to inquiries.
In a separate incident the same day, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted along the Damboa-Maiduguri Road exploded, killing two civilians. The victims, believed to be employees of the Damboa Local Education Authority, were transporting mangoes in a Toyota Hiace van when their vehicle hit the IED.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed awareness of the explosion but said full details were still being gathered.
These attacks highlight the continued threat posed by Boko Haram in the region. Just weeks earlier, a similar roadside bomb on the same route killed eight and injured 11 others.
