Daud Olatunji
At least three soldiers were killed, and several others injured as Boko Haram terrorists overran a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Wajiroko, Borno State, forcing the Nigerian Army to surrender control of one of its largest military facilities in the region.
Sources familiar with the development told PLATFORM TIMES that the insurgents launched a well-coordinated attack around 10:00 p.m. on Monday, targeting troops under Operation Hadin Kai and Desert Sanity IV.
Unable to withstand the onslaught, the soldiers reportedly abandoned their positions, leaving the base in the hands of the terrorists.
Efforts to reclaim the base have so far proved unsuccessful. Military reinforcements and air support deployed on Monday and Tuesday were unable to dislodge the insurgents, sources said.
At least three soldiers were confirmed dead, while three others, including Brigadier General U.F. Abubakar, were wounded while attempting to retake the base.
The other injured soldiers were identified as Lance Corporal Ibrahim Musa and Private Mohammed Hashim.
Drone footage reportedly captured dozens of fleeing soldiers heading towards Sabon Gari in a desperate bid to escape.
Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu has not responded to inquiries regarding the incident.
This latest attack comes just days after President Bola Tinubu’s administration celebrated what it described as progress in the fight against insurgency.
However, the takeover of the military base in Wajiroko serves as a stark reminder that terror groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain capable of executing large-scale assaults in northern Nigeria.
Observers warn that the loss of such a strategic base could further embolden insurgents and compromise ongoing military operations in the region.
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