MAIDUGURI — The Nigerian military is reeling from one of its deadliest setbacks in recent years after Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists launched a coordinated “triple-strike” on four military bases, killing over 40 soldiers, including a high-ranking Lieutenant Colonel.
The bloodbath, which occurred between late Thursday night and the early hours of Friday, targeted strategic military formations in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte.
The Fall of a Commander
Among the fallen is Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion. Sources confirm that Iliyasu and a detachment of his men were overwhelmed during a fierce battle in Konduga, a town just kilometers away from the state capital, Maiduguri.
The insurgents, described as “uncountable” by survivors, reportedly used the cover of darkness to launch simultaneous assaults, firing sporadically and utilizing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to breach the perimeter of the bases.
Recovering the Dead
As of Saturday morning, military recovery teams have pulled over 40 bodies from the charred remains of the camps. “It’s a dark day for the Theatre Command,” a military source told our correspondent. “Beyond those confirmed dead, several soldiers are still missing. We cannot say for certain if they were abducted or are hiding in the bushes.”
The terrorists reportedly made away with unquantifiable amounts of ammunition, burned several armored personnel carriers (APCs), and retreated into the Sambisa forest and Lake Chad fringes before air support could arrive.
Army Chief Storms Maiduguri
The scale of the massacre has prompted an emergency visit by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu. The Army Chief arrived in Maiduguri on Saturday morning for an urgent briefing at the Headquarters of the Theatre Command (Operation Hadin Kai).
While the military claims to have neutralized “scores” of terrorists in the counter-attack, the loss of a Battalion Commander and 40 troops represents a significant blow to morale in the North-East operation.
A Pattern of Violence
This latest carnage comes on the heels of similar attacks in Jakana and Ngoshe earlier this month, where a Major and several other officers were killed. Despite official claims that the insurgency is in its “remnant stage,” the ability of the terrorists to sack four bases simultaneously has raised serious questions about the adequacy of intelligence and equipment at the frontlines.
As of press time, the families of the deceased are being contacted, while the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Iliyasu and his men have been deposited at the 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri.
