Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault on a Forward Operating Base in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State, resulting in the deaths of several soldiers and vigilantes. The attack, which occurred around 4 p.m. on Saturday, overwhelmed the military forces despite their resistance. According to sources, the insurgents also looted military weapons, destroyed vehicles, and burned buildings during the assault.
the insurgents reportedly used a drone for reconnaissance before initiating the attack, deceiving the military into believing it was a surveillance drone. Following this, they coordinated the assault from a hideout in Mandara Gau, about 25 kilometers away. This area, previously a mango plantation, has been forcefully occupied by the insurgents and used as a base.
Over the past two weeks, Boko Haram has increasingly deployed drones for surveillance between Chibok and Damboa. A similar drone attack on December 24 injured six soldiers, highlighting the insurgents’ evolving tactics. Local sources indicate that many of the fighters involved in these recent attacks are remnants of groups fleeing military operations in the Lake Chad region.
In response, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, through Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, downplayed the attack, describing it as harassment and dismissing the drones used as “toy drones.” However, the scale of the attack and the losses sustained underline the growing threat posed by Boko Haram in the area.
This resurgence is tied to the displacement of Boko Haram fighters by joint military operations in Lake Chad. The ongoing conflict, spanning over a decade, continues to devastate the region, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced across Nigeria and neighboring countries. Regional forces, including Chadian troops, remain active in countering the insurgency but face persistent challenges.
According to a security source, “The base had suffered over 100 terrorist attacks in the past, but what happened yesterday was a devastating one, many soldiers and vigilantes were killed and all the armament in the base carted away.
Operation vehicles and buildings were also burnt this time around
