Suspected ISWAP militants attacked a Nigerian military base at Banki Junction in Borno State, killing an Army Major, U.I. Mairiga, and several soldiers.
The insurgents, who arrived in multiple groups, Diaspora Digital Media understand, opened fire on troops stationed at the base around 4:00 a.m.
Sources said that several Nigerian soldiers were killed, while others fled into the bush.
“An attack at Forward Base operations at Banki junction around 0400hrs by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists led to the death of an Army Major and many other soldiers this morning.
“Their corpses are being transferred to 7 Division military hospital in Maiduguri,” a source said.
The latest incident comes weeks after troops were killed during a similar raid on a military base in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
In that attack, the assailants reportedly set ablaze armoured tanks and other military vehicles before carting away a large cache of ammunition.
Meanwhile, following the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has continued expanding its influence around the Lake Chad region.
The group’s ranks have reportedly grown with the defection of hundreds of Boko Haram fighters previously loyal to Shekau.
