Boko Haram Fighters Overrun Nigerian Military Base in Borno, Kill Eight Personnel in Deadly Dawn Attack

At least eight security personnel, including five Nigerian soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), were killed in the early hours of Friday after suspected Boko Haram fighters launched a coordinated assault on a military installation in Borno State, northeast Nigeria.

The attack reportedly targeted a Nigerian Army base located in Mandaragirau community, which falls under the 25 Brigade of Sector 2 in Biu Local Government Area. According to initial security sources and eyewitness accounts from the area, the assault occurred before sunrise, when the attackers stormed the facility in large numbers, overwhelming the defensive position before reinforcements could arrive.

It was gathered that the militants engaged troops in a fierce exchange of gunfire, leading to the deaths of five soldiers on active duty. Three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, a local militia group assisting the military in counter insurgency operations across Borno, were also killed during the confrontation while supporting base security operations.

Security analysts familiar with the region, as reported by military sources, noted that such coordinated attacks have remained a recurring tactic used by insurgent groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin area. The Mandaragirau incident adds to a long list of assaults targeting military formations, civilian volunteers, and rural communities in Borno, a state that has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency crisis.

Residents in nearby communities told reporters that heavy gunfire and explosions were heard for several minutes, causing panic and forcing some families to flee into surrounding bushes for safety. Although the exact extent of damage to military equipment has not been officially disclosed, preliminary accounts suggest that the attackers succeeded in temporarily overrunning parts of the base before withdrawing.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army has not released a full official statement on the incident, but security reinforcements were reportedly deployed to the area shortly after the attack to restore order and begin clearance operations.

The latest assault underscores the continuing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria, where military and civilian forces remain engaged in persistent operations against insurgent groups. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations into the attack continue.