Many soldiers were feared killed by Boko Haram insurgents in an attack on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, on Monday.
According to local sources, the attack occurred in the evening when the insurgents launched an assault on the military formation, firing sporadically and causing numerous casualties, including soldiers killed and others critically injured.
A resident of Damboa, Abba Usman, provided additional information, saying that military reinforcements rushing to the scene stepped on a landmine, causing an explosion that resulted in injuries and possibly more casualties.
“I do not have much information, but I can confirm that there was an attack and soldiers were killed. Here, we also heard about how soldiers rushing to the base for reinforcement stepped on something like a bomb, and it exploded,” Usman said.
A military source also confirmed the attack; however, the source refrained from providing a specific number of soldiers killed, stating, “There was an attack; many soldiers were killed, but the figure is currently not known.”
When contacted, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col A.Y. Jingina, responded, saying, “Please, I am out of station, and Sabon Gari is under Sector 2.”
However, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed the incident, stating, “I can confirm there was an IED attack in a place called Wajiroko (under Damboa). What happened was that our military personnel stepped on an IED. We lost one, and one sustained an injury. It was not an attack; it was an IED our soldiers stepped on.”
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff, has asked commanders and heads of various Army formations across the country to work with stakeholders in their respective areas to successfully handle the nation’s security concerns. He made the call on Tuesday at the start of the four-day First Senior Command and Leadership Seminar in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
In his remarks, Oluyede stressed the necessity of forming partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organisations, and traditional institutions to combat terrorism and other criminal activities.
He emphasised that mutual respect and teamwork were critical for long-term national stability and effective counterterrorism activities.
Oluyede, represented by the Army’s Chief of Training, Maj. Gen. Abubakar Sadiq Ndalolo, advised the commanders to constantly adjust their strategies to meet changing security challenges. He urged them to have meaningful discussions and share best practices during the lecture.
“These stakeholders are pivotal to addressing the prevailing security threats within your areas of responsibilities.
“It is also pertinent that you strategically apply situational awareness and strategic communication skills when engaging these stakeholders so that you can foster mutual respect and build teamwork. This integrated approach is not only key to addressing our immediate security threats. It can also contribute significantly to long-term national stability,” he said.
The conference is intended to provide Army operational commanders and senior military officers with the tools they need to handle Nigeria’s increasingly complicated security environment.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by Deputy Governor Emmanuel Akabe, praised the Nigerian Army for holding the seminar, describing it as a critical venue for sharing experiences and improving operational leadership abilities.
Maj. Gen. Hilary Nzan, Commander of the 4 Special Forces Command, also extended gratitude to the participants and underlined the significance of altering the Nigerian Army’s operations via innovation and strategic thinking.
