Militants kill 16 on Nigerian army base, military outpost, security sources say

Suspected Islamist fighters attacked an army base and a military outpost in Nigeria's Borno State. At least 16 people were killed, according to security sources.

Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants mainly operate in northeastern Nigeria. They frequently attack security forces and civilians, causing many deaths and displacements.

In the latest assault, Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP fighters targeted an army base in Wajiroko around 2100 GMT on Monday. They set military equipment on fire during the attack.

A soldier from the Wajiroko brigade reported that at least four soldiers died. Several others were injured, including the brigade commander.

Armed fighters in tactical vehicles also attacked an outpost in Wulgo village. This village is about 12 kilometers from Fotokol, a town near the Cameroonian border. The Cameroon Defense Ministry reported that 12 soldiers were killed and many others injured.

A military source told Reuters that the raid occurred between midnight and 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The militants likely used drones before launching their ground assault. They also looted a significant stockpile of weapons.

Videos shared online showed bloodied bodies, burned patrol vehicles, and damaged buildings after the attack. Reuters could not verify these videos independently.

A spokesperson for the Nigerian army did not respond to requests for comment. Cyrille Serge Atonfack Guemo, a spokesperson for Cameroon’s army, confirmed the attack but noted unclear casualty figures.

Makinta Modu is part of a local militia assisting the Nigerian army. He stated that militants overran an army "forward operation base" during the Wajiroko attack.

Modu mentioned that air force jets arrived around 10:30 p.m., killing many ISWAP fighters who captured the base. It remains unclear if control of the base has been regained by the army.

Despite suffering losses from military actions and internal conflicts, Boko Haram and ISWAP have increased attacks this year on both military and civilian targets in Borno State.

An Islamist insurgency has troubled northeastern Nigeria for over a decade. Meanwhile, kidnapping and banditry are widespread in the northwest, while gang violence is common in the southeast.