Soldiers flee after Boko Haram raid on Borno base

Troops

Some soldiers are reportedly fleeing back to their villages following Monday’s attack by Boko Haram terrorists on a military base in Marte, Borno State, which claimed the lives of five personnel.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded the forward operating base in the early hours of Monday, overpowering soldiers on duty, looting weapons, and escaping with military vehicles.

Multiple military sources, speaking on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity for lack of authorisation, said some of the soldiers who witnessed the attack had abandoned their posts and returned to their hometowns.

“After the operation, they burnt everything. They destroyed all our facilities and carted away arms. They even left with our Commanding Officer’s vehicle. All the new motorbikes issued to us—they took them too,” one of the sources said.

“Some soldiers have dumped their arms, saying they’re no longer interested. They’re returning to their villages. One of them, whom we call Dangwari, is among those who left.”

Another source alleged that the attack was made possible by betrayal from within.

“A civilian Joint Task Force member, someone we trusted, sold us out. He led the insurgents to our camp. His name is Sharu. He was close to our adjutant and considered part of the team,” he said.

He added that residents in surrounding communities had fled to safer areas such as Dikwa, Lukumani, and Mafa, fearing further attacks.

“The insurgents might advance again if they detect low military presence in this region,” he warned.

Reacting to the incident on Tuesday, the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force, North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, has attributed the recent surge in insurgent attacks in Borno State to the ongoing instability in the wider Sahel region.