Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have killed a Nigerian Army Major, three soldiers and a local hunter during a deadly attack on a military outpost in Mayanti, located in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The assault, which occurred late on Sunday night, targeted a Forward Operations Base (FOB) in the remote northeastern community. Security sources confirmed the fatalities to Daily Trust, identifying the military officer as Major IU Mairiga, who was commanding the base at the time of the raid.
According to the sources, the insurgents overwhelmed the base after intense fighting. Major Mairiga reportedly resisted fiercely against the attackers despite being heavily outnumbered. He continued to engage the insurgents until he was killed in action. Three other soldiers assigned to the FOB also lost their lives during the confrontation.
In addition to the military casualties, a civilian local hunter who was reportedly assisting troops at the base was also killed during the fighting. The hunter had been working with the unit to provide local support and reconnaissance.
Following the attack, reinforcement troops who arrived at the scene recovered several weapons abandoned by the insurgents, including Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), anti-aircraft guns and PKT machine guns. The bodies of several insurgents were also seen around the base, according to military sources.
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Military vehicles and equipment at the forward base were set ablaze by the attackers before their withdrawal, and three civilians engaged in reconstruction work in the community were reported injured in the ensuing crossfire.
The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, which coordinates counter-insurgency operations in the region, confirmed the attack and stated that troops had repelled multiple coordinated assaults on FOBs in communities across Sector II between February 28 and March 1. A statement by Lt-Col Sani Uba, the task force’s Media Information Officer, said several insurgents were neutralised and a large cache of arms and ammunition was seized during these engagements.
Despite the heavy losses suffered in this incident, the military maintained that affected areas remain under firm control and that ongoing offensive operations are degrading the operational capabilities of insurgent groups in northeastern Nigeria.
Borno State has remained a focal point of violent extremist activity for over a decade, with Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), frequently targeting both security forces and civilians. The insurgency has resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement and ongoing military operations aimed at restoring stability across the region.
