Suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a late-night attack on a military formation in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, but the assault was successfully repelled by joint security operatives, authorities said.
Residents and security sources told reporters that the insurgents attempted to storm the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, a key military base in the area.
The attack occurred less than 30 minutes after suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters reportedly launched another assault around Ajilari Cross and nearby communities in Maiduguri.
Residents in Maiduguri said the earlier attack was also repelled after several minutes of sporadic gunfire.
Confirming the Damboa incident, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force in Borno State, ASP Nahum Daso, said the terrorists’ attempt to infiltrate the community was foiled by security personnel.
“In another separate incident, at about 0100HRS, joint security operatives thwarted a suspected terrorist attack in Damboa LGA,” Daso said in a brief statement.
“Normalcy has been restored; more details are underway,” he added.
Although security officials have yet to provide full details of the attack, residents in Damboa confirmed hearing heavy gunfire near the military base during the night.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the insurgents tried to infiltrate the town through the 25 Task Force Brigade but were met with strong resistance from troops.
“It was a horrible night. When we heard that terrorists were attempting to infiltrate Damboa through the military camp at the 25 Task Force Brigade, the news quickly spread,” the resident said.
“Thank God for the effort of our gallant troops.”
Attempts to get further comments from the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, were unsuccessful as calls placed to his phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attack comes about two weeks after suspected insurgents overran a military base in Ngoshe, also in Borno State, setting it ablaze, killing civilians, and abducting more than 300 residents.
Less than 48 hours after the Ngoshe attack, a faction of the extremist group Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad claimed responsibility in a video message.
In the one-minute-thirty-second clip obtained by journalists, five armed men vowed to intensify their attacks and extend their operations beyond the region.
Speaking in Hausa, one of the men said the group had successfully captured Ngoshe and threatened to expand their attacks to Maiduguri and even Abuja.
“In the name of Allah, the most merciful and most beneficial,” the speaker said.
“We thank God Almighty for helping us succeed in our mission in Ngoshe. Today we are inside the central mosque in Ngoshe.
“We will not stop only in Ngoshe. We will attack Maiduguri and proceed to Abuja.”
Security agencies have yet to confirm the authenticity of the video or provide updates on efforts to rescue the abducted residents.
