By Obinna Uballa
Four Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed dead and five others injured after Boko Haram terrorists launched a fierce midnight attack on a military base in Ngamdu, along the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The assault, which occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, was met with stiff resistance from troops of Operation Hadin Kai, who repelled the attackers after a prolonged gun battle.
Confirming the incident in a statement Friday evening, the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Uba Sani, said the terrorists suffered heavy casualties during the encounter.
“Troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a coordinated terrorist attack in the Ngamdu general area, following a swift response by forces on ground and reinforcement elements from 29 Task Force Brigade,” Sani stated.
He said the insurgents deployed rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), armed drones, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in an attempt to overrun the base.
“Despite the intensity of the attack, the troops held their ground. Unfortunately, four soldiers were killed in action, while five sustained injuries. Some Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and gun trucks also sustained varying degrees of damage,” the statement added.
The army spokesman disclosed that the terrorists tried to block reinforcements by planting multiple IEDs along the Ngamdu–Damaturu Main Supply Route (MSR), temporarily forcing a closure of the road.
He said military engineers later cleared three IED-laden spots, allowing the road to reopen for both military and civilian movement.
According to Sani, credible intelligence indicated that the terrorists suffered heavy losses, with about 15 bodies reportedly buried around Bula Wura, near Wasaram.
He commended the troops for their gallantry and assured that normalcy had been restored in the area.
Meanwhile, motorists experienced gridlock on the highway as the military conducted post-attack clearance and assessment operations.
A supervisor with Borno Express Transport Company, Muktar Yahaya, said several buses were stranded for hours due to intensified military checks.
“Boko Haram launched an attack in Ngamdu. Many of our buses were on hold because of military operations in the area. As of this morning, vehicles were parked by the roadsides, unable to continue their journeys,” he told Punch Newspaper.
Boko Haram has stepped up attacks on military bases and convoys in Borno this year. The insurgency, which began in 2009, has displaced over two million people and claimed thousands of lives across the northeast.
