Militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram faction, have attacked four military bases in Borno State, killing an undisclosed number of Nigerian soldiers.
The coordinated attacks, Diaspora Digital Media gathered, occurred in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte town between 10pm Thursday and 3am Friday.
They reportedly fired at the military bases sporadically, causing numerous casualties.
The criminal elements also came in different groups and their numbers were difficult to ascertain, military sources familiar with the development said.
During the attacks, the gunmen reportedly burned armoured tanks, military vehicles, and made away with unquantifiable ammunition.
According to sources, the military also killed dozens of Boko Haram terrorists while attempting to repel the attacks.
“Several attacks on military bases in Operation Hadin Kai by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana around 10:30 pm last night while in Marte town around 3:00 am on Friday, the attacks on military bases keep increasing on a daily basis within the North East operation,” a military source said.
“One is along Bama and close to Maiduguri, I mean the base attacked in Konduga, while Mainok and Jakana town are both along Maiduguri/Damaturu Road. Marte town, where another base was attacked, is after Dikwa Local Government Area, close to the Chad border.
“During these different attacks, many Boko Haram members were killed, including their commanders. I don’t have the actual numbers of soldiers killed as well, but the terrorists took over some of these bases for hours without air support from the Nigerian Air Force.
“As they usually do, they burned the camps with all the military equipment.”
Meanwhile, the attacks are part of ISWAP’s intensified efforts to stretch the military and limit its ability to bring reinforcements.
Borno State remains the epicenter of the 17-year Islamist insurgency, which has killed thousands and displaced 2 million people.
