Boko Haram Attacks Army Base in Borno, Kills Five Soldiers and Three CJTF Members

Boko Haram terrorists launched a deadly pre-dawn attack on a Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, under the 25 Brigade of Sector 2 in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, killing five soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force who were on duty when the assault began. 

The attack, which occurred at approximately 3am on Friday during heavy rainfall and poor visibility, has reignited serious concerns about the security situation in the North-East and the resilience of military defences in the region. 

The Acting Media Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Haruna Sani, confirmed the attack in an official statement, saying that despite the adverse weather conditions, troops at the base responded with a fierce counter-offensive that ultimately frustrated further incursions and inflicted casualties on the attacking terrorists.

"Determined troops responded with a fierce counter-offensive, decisively frustrating further incursions and inflicting casualties on the attackers. 

The counter-assault underscores the resilience of the troops at FOB Mandaragirau and reflects the courage and determination of our personnel across the theatre," Sani stated. 

The military acknowledged that five soldiers paid the supreme price during the intense firefight and close-quarter combat, with some equipment also affected during the assault. 

Three members of the CJTF also lost their lives fighting alongside the troops, while those wounded were promptly airlifted by the Air Component Command and are currently in stable condition receiving medical attention, according to the statement. 

However, sources within the local government area painted a far grimmer picture than the official account. 

Speaking to correspondents, community sources said the attackers stormed the military location and operated for nearly one hour with little to no resistance, taking advantage of the heavy downpour to breach the base under cover of darkness. 

One military source went further, alleging that Boko Haram fighters pursued fleeing soldiers after breaching the perimeter. 

"Boko Haram chased them. If you see how they killed our people, some soldiers had to run for their lives. Everything happened when it was raining," the source said. 

Another military source directly disputed the official casualty figure, insisting that the number of soldiers killed exceeded eight — a claim that significantly contradicts the five deaths acknowledged in the formal statement. 

A viral video obtained by correspondents appeared to show soldiers and CJTF members discussing the aftermath of the attack, with several bodies visible in different locations within the base. 

The President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, independently confirmed the attack and revealed that more than one location was targeted during the raid. 

He called on the government to urgently intensify security measures and develop grassroots intelligence structures capable of detecting terrorist movements before they translate into deadly assaults. 

"The government needs to create a platform for knowledgeable people to discuss and review security issues. Through such structures, some of these attacks can be reduced," Kaigama said. 

The military maintained that troops remain firmly in control of the FOB and that exploitation operations are ongoing for consolidation. 

Operation HADIN KAI described the attack as a reflection of the growing desperation of terrorist elements who, it said, continue to suffer devastating losses under sustained operational pressure — though the events at Mandaragirau suggest that Boko Haram retains both the capacity and the intent to strike at the heart of military positions in the North-East.