Boko Haram Attacks Borno Military Base, Kills Commander and 18 Soldiers 

Boko Haram insurgents have launched a deadly attack on a military base in Borno, killing a commanding officer and 18 soldiers, heightening concerns over security in the region.

At least 19 soldiers, including a commander, were killed in an attack on the military base in Malam-Fatori, located within Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

Malam-Fatori is a border town located two kilometers from the Nigerien community of Bosso.

According to credible reports, the assailants who invaded the Malam-Fatori military base caused chaos for several hours on Friday, January 24th, 2025, before overpowering the 149 Battalion. It is reported that survivors of this lethal attack managed to escape to safety.

Intelligence sources verified that the insurgents reached the base using several gun trucks, destroying numerous buildings and military vehicles in their attack.

“According to a source who spoke with Channels Television, numerous soldiers sustained serious injuries while several other personnel are unaccounted for.”

The attack claimed the lives of several individuals, including the commanding officer of the battalion—a lieutenant colonel—and two senior officers, one being the base medical director.

The 149 Taskforce Brigade in Malam-Fatori is situated two kilometers from the Nigerien border town of Bosso, near Lake Chad, where insurgents are currently residing.

According to a military source quoted by Channels Television, the attack on the military base occurred while troops were conducting routine operations in the Timbuktu triangle. During these operations, they drove into an ambush that led to the death of Lieutenant Colonel Alari, their Commanding Officer.

The Nigerian Army, along with the Defence Headquarters and other authorities, has yet to respond to the latest attack.

In 2016, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) separated from mainstream Boko Haram to emerge as the leading militant group in northeastern Nigeria.

They took control of territory previously held by Boko Haram, including the Timbuktu Triangle and Sambisa Forest, a game reserve that had been transformed into a stronghold for jihadists.

The group is infamous for placing roadside mines and rigging vehicles with explosives to target military personnel.

In July of the previous year, seven soldiers lost their lives when their vehicle struck a landmine in a village with ISWAP activity.

The conflict, ongoing for 15 years, has resulted in the deaths of 40,000 individuals and forced approximately two million people to leave their homes in the northeast.

The violence spread into neighboring countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the formation of a regional force to combat the militants.