Borno State, Nigeria — At least two Nigerian soldiers have been killed after Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base in the early hours of Monday in the Rann area of Kala Balge district, Borno State.
Military sources told SaharaReporters that the insurgents stormed the base belonging to the army’s CIO Battalion, setting armoured tanks on fire and stealing an unknown quantity of ammunition.
The fighting was so intense that some soldiers reportedly fled across the border into neighbouring Cameroon, carrying their weapons with them.
“There was another Boko Haram dislodgement on our base in Borno,” a source said. “They killed two of our soldiers and injured many others. Some who escaped fled into Cameroon with their arms.”
This latest attack comes only a few months after 22 soldiers, including a commander, were killed when Boko Haram fighters struck another military base in Malam-Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.
Nigeria has been battling Boko Haram in the North-East since 2009. While the military often says the group has been “largely defeated,” insurgent attacks continue to claim lives and destroy communities, especially in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
The war has killed thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes. Many soldiers have also complained about poor weapons and equipment, accusing their commanders of leaving them at a disadvantage against the heavily armed insurgents.
