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Boko Haram insurgents attack army base in Borno, killing several Nigerian soldiers during a coordinated assault.
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Gun trucks and armoured vehicles destroyed as ISWAP fighters cart away ammunition in Damboa.
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Renewed security concerns in North-East Nigeria follow deadly attacks on military formations.
Several Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed on Thursday after fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram faction, launched an attack on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Military sources told SaharaReporters that the insurgents stormed the military formation, firing sporadically and inflicting heavy casualties on troops stationed at the base, including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
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A source confirmed that although the exact number of casualties was yet to be determined, many soldiers were killed during the assault. The source said the attackers set fire to armoured tanks and military vehicles before escaping with a large quantity of ammunition.
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ISWAP later claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released online, accompanied by a video showing armed fighters firing towards the military facility.
The latest attack came days after seven Nigerian military personnel, including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel, were killed in a separate ambush by insurgents in Borno State. The officer, identified as Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed, was reportedly leading troops from Maiduguri to Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area when the convoy was attacked on Monday, January 26, 2026.
Security sources said the insurgents used explosives and heavy gunfire during the ambush, leaving several soldiers dead, others seriously injured, and an unspecified number still missing.
Since the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has strengthened its presence around the Lake Chad region, bolstered by defections from rival factions. Despite repeated assurances by the Nigerian Army that the insurgency has been largely subdued, attacks on military targets have persisted.
The Boko Haram conflict has claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced millions of people across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, continuing to pose a major security challenge in Nigeria’s North-East.