Chukwu Obinna 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Suspected Boko Haram militants overran a Nigerian military base in northeastern Nigeria early Monday, killing a commanding officer and forcing troops to withdraw from the camp in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, security sources say.
The insurgents launched the assault at about 12:30 a.m., attacking the base from multiple directions and overwhelming soldiers stationed in the area.
A resident of Kukawa says the militants storm the town under the cover of darkness before targeting the military facility.
“They came from several directions and immediately launched an attack on the military camp,” the resident says.
Security officials say the attackers dislodge troops during the raid, burn military vehicles and escape with weapons and ammunition.
One security source confirms that the Commanding Officer (CO) of the unit is among those killed in the assault.
“I cannot give full casualty details yet, but it is very painful that we lost the commanding officer,” the source says.
The attack marks a grim reversal for troops who only weeks earlier repel a similar insurgent assault on the same base, reportedly killing several militants.
The successful defence had drawn praise from residents and local leaders, including Kukawa lawmaker Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, who publicly commended the soldiers and celebrated their bravery.
Reacting to Monday’s incident, Lawan expresses sadness over the loss and the capture of the military position.
“It is heartbreaking that the base was overrun this time despite the bravery shown by our troops earlier,” he says.
The latest assault comes days after terrorists attacked a military base and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area, killing an unspecified number of soldiers and civilians.
Security analysts warn that repeated attacks on military installations highlight the continuing threat posed by insurgent groups in Nigeria’s northeast.
Authorities have yet to issue an official casualty figure as investigations continue.
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