Dalena Reporters l Monday, March 2, 2026
BORNO STATE, Nigeria — A Boko Haram-linked assault on a Nigerian military base in Borno State has resulted in the death of an Army Major and several other soldiers, according to military sources and unconfirmed reports emerging Sunday. The attack marks the latest in a string of deadly insurgent offensives targeting security forces in northeastern Nigeria.
The assault — said to have been carried out in the early hours on Sunday at a Forward Operating Base in Banki Junction along the Bama–Gwoza Road — saw militants storm the military position, resulting in heavy fighting with Nigerian soldiers. Eyewitness and security accounts suggest the attack was launched by fighters affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an Islamic State-aligned faction that has been increasingly active in the region.
Military officials told reporters that among the troops killed was an Army Major, whose identity has not been publicly released. Additional soldiers were also reported killed, though precise casualty numbers remain unverified as forces conduct post-attack assessments.
The insurgents reportedly used coordinated tactics, including gunfire and possibly explosive devices, to breach the base perimeter before Nigerian troops, supported by rapid reinforcements, fought back. Details about the militants’ numbers and whether they incurred losses during the encounter have not been disclosed.
Borno State continues to be the epicentre of Nigeria’s long-running Islamist insurgency, where Boko Haram and its splinter groups have mounted repeated attacks on military installations, convoys and civilian communities. A similar attack earlier this year involving drone-backed militants left several Nigerian soldiers dead in Sabon Gari, illustrating the evolving and deadly tactics insurgents are employing.
The Nigerian military has in recent months reported both gains and challenges in its counter-insurgency operations across the northeast, as forces seek to contain militant strongholds while protecting key towns and supply routes. However, repeated assaults on bases like the one in Banki Junction highlight the persistent threat these armed groups present to national security and stability.
As investigations continue and official casualty figures are yet to be released, the latest attack underscores the ongoing intensity of the conflict in Borno and the high human toll borne by Nigerian soldiers engaged in counter-terrorism operations.