Boko Haram Launches Deadly Assault on Military Base in Yobe State
At least four Nigerian soldiers were killed and several military vehicles destroyed on Saturday when suspected Boko Haram fighters launched a pre-dawn assault on the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, located in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The attack, which reportedly began around 2 am, came less than a day after the North East Governors Forum concluded a high-level security meeting in the state capital, Damaturu, aimed at adopting a new strategy against insurgency in the region.
Buni Yadi, approximately 65 kilometres from Damaturu, is also the hometown of Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Security sources say the insurgents approached the military base from the western flank, catching soldiers off guard with heavy gunfire and explosives. One soldier, who survived the attack, told reporters that the assailants overwhelmed the brigade, looted the armory, and set fire to multiple military assets.
Among the equipment destroyed were five Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, artillery units, anti-aircraft carriers, and over 20 Hilux trucks. The source also confirmed that the attackers beheaded the soldiers who were killed.
The Nigerian Army confirmed the incident in a brief post on its verified Facebook page, stating: “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI are currently in a fierce battle against ISWAP attack at Buni Gari, Yobe State. Details later.” No further updates have been released at the time of this report.
Another soldier who fled the scene said the firefight lasted for several hours, with casualties reported on both sides. “It was intense,” he said. “We fought hard, but they came in large numbers, throwing explosives and firing from all directions.”
Saturday’s assault underscores the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), despite repeated claims by Nigerian authorities that the insurgency is in decline.
The attack also highlights the vulnerability of military installations even in areas considered to be under government control, raising renewed concerns about operational preparedness and intelligence coordination.
