At least 10 soldiers and four civilians are feared dead after suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters attacked a military base in Mairari, Borno State.
The attack occurred on Tuesday in Guzamala Local Government Area, about 120 to 130 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital.
Security sources said the attackers stormed the military base in large numbers, triggering a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours.
Troops reportedly fought back, killing many of the attackers. However, the insurgents are said to have inflicted heavy casualties and destroyed several military assets, including gun trucks and operational vehicles belonging to the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
The Executive Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, Lawan Sheriff, confirmed the incident but did not provide details of the number of casualties.
The attack was not immediately reported because the affected area has no telecommunications network, making it difficult for information to reach the public.
The incident comes amid persistent security challenges in the Lake Chad region. In a separate attack, suspected terrorists reportedly seized more than 40 locally made fishing boats from fishermen at Tumbun Barebari, an area also known as Abujan Ruwa.
Mairari is considered strategically important because it is one of the few communities in the area to have survived repeated Boko Haram attacks. The town previously served as the temporary headquarters of Guzamala Area Council after insurgents captured the council’s official headquarters in Gudumbali.
The continued occupation of Gudumbali by insurgents has remained a major concern for local leaders.
The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, who represents the area, has repeatedly criticised the failure of security agencies to retake the council headquarters. However, his calls for military action have yet to produce the desired results.
There has been no official comment from the military or the Borno State Police Command.
10 soldiers, four civilians feared dead in attack on Borno military base