Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly attack on a Nigerian military base in Borno State early Monday, killing several soldiers and destroying military assets, according to local and security sources.
The assault targeted the Forward Operating Base of the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte Local Government Area at around 3 a.m. Eyewitnesses said the militants overwhelmed troops in a surprise raid, setting ablaze armored vehicles and looting weapons and ammunition.
“The terrorists stormed the base under the cover of darkness. They torched armored tanks and carted away a significant cache of arms,” a military source, speaking anonymously due to security protocol, told reporters.
The military has not yet issued an official statement on casualties or damage sustained in the attack.
Landmine Kills Two Teachers on Damboa Highway
Just hours after the base assault, tragedy struck along the Maiduguri–Damboa–Biu highway, where two education workers were killed by a landmine planted by insurgents.
The victims, identified as Blessing Luka and Bitaleaf Gedion, were teachers en route to Maiduguri to sit for a Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) examination scheduled for May 16. Their vehicle—a Toyota car loaded with mangoes—hit the explosive device near Damboa, killing them instantly.
“This was meant to be a journey toward professional growth, but it ended in tragedy. These were dedicated educators committed to improving themselves,” a community source said.
Luka taught at Junior Day New School in Damboa, while Gedion served at Junior Day Secondary School (UBE) Islamiya. Both were members of the Damboa Local Education Authority.
Renewed Insecurity Raises Alarms
The incidents occurred less than 24 hours after Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 15, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, convened an emergency security stakeholders meeting in Maiduguri to address escalating insecurity—including terrorism, kidnapping, and the unchecked movement of people and goods.
Confirming the teachers’ deaths, District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Zanna Lawan Maina, called for collective prayers and resilience in the face of rising violence.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, condemned the renewed wave of attacks, describing them as “shocking” and warning of a deteriorating security situation if urgent action isn’t taken.
“The government must stop treating this as business as usual,” he said. “Our military must be properly trained, equipped, and motivated to confront this evolving threat.”
Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to launch sporadic attacks across northeastern Nigeria, despite repeated claims by the government that the insurgency has been “technically defeated.”
Monday’s events serve as a grim reminder that for many in Borno, peace remains painfully out of reach.
