An unconfirmed number of Nigerian soldiers have reportedly lost their lives following an attack on a military base in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents. Multiple sources confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters.
The assault occurred on Saturday night, targeting the 153 Task Force Battalion located in Marte Local Government Area. According to eyewitness accounts, the insurgents overpowered the troops, set fire to armored vehicles, and seized military ammunition during the raid.
“There was another Boko Haram invasion at the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte on Saturday night. We fear many casualties, as we’ve been unable to establish contact with the base since the incident,” a military officer, identified as a Major, told SaharaReporters.
The 153 Task Force Battalion has been repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram in the past, with the area around Marte witnessing numerous clashes, including ambushes and the strategic loss and recapture of locations.
This latest attack follows a deadly ambush just weeks earlier in Malam-Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, where 22 soldiers, including a commanding officer, were killed during another assault on a military base.
For over a decade, northeastern Nigeria has been gripped by a violent insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter groups. The extremist group, which gained global attention after becoming violently active in 2009, is known for carrying out bombings, mass kidnappings, and assaults on both civilian populations and security forces.
Although former President Muhammadu Buhari repeatedly claimed that Boko Haram had been “technically defeated,” the group and its affiliates have continued their operations with devastating consequences.
The insurgency has caused the deaths of tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Entire villages have been destroyed, and survivors often find themselves in overcrowded internally displaced persons (IDP) camps with limited access to essential services.
Groups like the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram, have further intensified the conflict, making counterinsurgency efforts more complex.
Despite assistance from regional forces and international allies, including the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), the insurgency remains a significant threat to Nigeria’s security and regional stability.
