By Sadeeq Kamsela, Abuja
Several soldiers were reportedly killed when Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday night, several sources have said.
It was gathered that the assault occurred in the evening as insurgents stormed the military formation, firing indiscriminately and inflicting heavy casualties.
“Some soldiers were killed, while others sustained critical injuries,” a military source at the barrack told Naija Daily News.
Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, confirmed the incident, stating that the soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion.
“I can confirm there was an IED explosion in Wajiroko (under Damboa). Our military personnel stepped on an IED. We lost one soldier, and another sustained injuries. This was not an attack; it was an IED explosion,” Tar explained.
Details of the attack remain unclear, but a resident of Damboa, Abba Usman, contradicted Tar, revealing that a military reinforcement team rushing to the scene hit a landmine, triggering an explosion that caused further injuries and possible fatalities.
A military source also confirmed the incident but declined to specify the number of casualties, stating, “There was an attack, and many soldiers were killed, but the exact figure is still unknown.”
When contacted, Lt. Col. A.Y. Jingina, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, responded via text, saying, “Please, I am out of station, and Sabon Gari falls under Sector 2.”
