Military sources have reported that insurgents stormed the battalion base in the Rann area of Kala Balge district, Borno State, in the early hours of Monday, killing at least two soldiers. The attack is believed to have been carried out by Boko Haram militants.
According to sources, the insurgents set armoured tanks on fire and looted an unspecified amount of ammunition during the raid. The attack resulted in intense fighting, with some soldiers reportedly fleeing into neighboring Cameroon for safety. The sources mentioned that several others were injured during the assault.
“There was another Boko Haram dislodgement on our base in Borno; the CIO Battalion in Rann, Kala Balge, was attacked by them, and they killed two of our soldiers while injuring many others,” the source said.
This attack follows a previous incident a few months ago, in which 22 soldiers, including a commander, were killed in an assault on a military base in Malam-Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Since 2009, Nigeria has been battling insurgents in the North-East, and while the military frequently claims that the terrorists have been largely defeated, the ongoing violence and attacks highlight the continued challenges in the region. Terrorist activities have caused the deaths of thousands and displaced millions, particularly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.
Nigerian soldiers have long expressed concerns about inadequate weaponry, with accusations that their superiors have left them vulnerable in the face of well-armed Boko Haram militants.