Boko Haram terrorists have killed over 20 Nigerian Army personnel and left several others missing following a fierce attack on the 149 Battalion in Malam-Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area, Borno State.
The attack, which occurred on Friday, January 24, 2025, saw the insurgents storming the military base with multiple gun trucks, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos.
Sources who spoke with SaharaReporters revealed that the assault lasted several hours, with the insurgents razing operational vehicles and buildings.
The battalion’s commanding officer, two senior officers, including the base medical director, were among those killed in the brutal attack.
A military source confirmed, “The insurgents came heavily armed, attacking the base in waves. Many of our men are still unaccounted for, and several others sustained injuries.”
Malam-Fatori, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic, has been a refuge for thousands displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. The recent attack has heightened concerns over the safety of civilians in the area.
Apart from the dead bodies recovered, the exact number of missing soldiers remains unclear. Security personnel continue to comb the area in search of survivors.
The attack follows a similar incident days earlier at the Forward Operating Base in Damboa Local Government Area, where Boko Haram fighters launched a pre-dawn raid, killing several soldiers and leaving others missing.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for both attacks. The group released images showing their fighters firing sporadically at the military facility during the Damboa assault.
