Boko Haram terrorists launched a devastating attack on the 149 Battalion military base in Malam-Fatori, Borno State, on Friday, January 24, 2025, leaving over 20 Nigerian soldiers dead and several others missing.
Malam-Fatori, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic, hosts thousands of displaced individuals who fled the insurgency.
Sources revealed that the insurgents stormed the base using multiple gun trucks, razing buildings and destroying military operational vehicles.
Among the casualties were the commanding officer, two senior officers, and the base medical director.
Several soldiers sustained injuries, while the exact number of missing personnel remains unknown.
“25 Taskforce Bde was attacked during the weekend with so many casualties, so far we have recovered over seven bodies,” a source had told SaharaReporters.
“The terror group invaded the camp FOB Sabon Gari around 4am on Saturday, using various weapons.”
This attack comes just days after another brutal attack on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Damboa Local Government Area, where numerous soldiers were killed or went missing.
ISWAP, a faction of Boko Haram, took responsibility for the Damboa attack, releasing images of their fighters firing at the facility.
The rise in attacks shows ISWAP’s growing influence since the death of Abubakar Shekau, with many former Boko Haram fighters joining its ranks.
Despite military reports of significant progress against insurgency, the terror group continues to wreak havoc, leaving a trail of destruction and loss.
The insurgency has claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced millions, predominantly in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.