Boko Haram insurgents in camouflage military uniform attacked a Nigerian Army camp in Borno State on Thursday, August 30, 2018, killing at least one officer and 30 soldiers while two officers and 17 soldiers were seriously wounded.
Scores of Boko Haram fighters carried out the attack on the military unit in Zari, a small community north of Maiduguri and near the border with Niger.
They stormed the unit in 12 gun trucks, accompanied by other fighters who came on foot, at about 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The details were disclosed to Premium Times by reliable sources who sought strict anonymity for fears they might be sanctioned by authorities.
The sources said the gallant Nigerian troops initially fought to repel the terrorists but that their effort failed at a point and the insurgents broke into the camp after about an hour of exchange of gunfire.
An unknown number of troops could still not be accounted for as at Saturday, September 1, 2018, our sources said.
The wounded officers and men were evacuated to the Nigerian Army 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maiduguri.
Two of our sources said the terrorists made away with armoured personnel carriers, anti-aircraft guns, water tanker, utility trucks, ambulances and other equipment.
They also burnt satellite communication equipment and destroyed makeshift tents inside the camp, the sources said.
Military authorities were still trying to ascertain Boko Haram casualties as at Saturday morning, it was learnt.
It is not immediately clear whichof the two Boko Haram factions carried out the attack.
The Abu-Mus’ab Al-Barnawi faction of the dreaded sect is known to target military formations.
Texas Chukwu, a brigadier-general and Nigerian Army chief spokesperson did not return PREMIUM TIMES’ requests for comments after several hours on Saturday, September 1, 2018.
The Army confirmed the attack occurred in a statement late Friday, but Onyema Nwakchukwu — a spokesperson for the theatre command in Maiduguri— only said soldiers killed many Boko Haram insurgents when they repelled the attack.
Nwachukwu, a colonel, told PREMIUM TIMES he did not immediately have details of military casualties.
“I am only aware of aerial bombardment and the response of the ground troops that left many Boko Haram fighters killed,” Mr Nwachukwu said by telephone Saturday afternoon.
“But I am not aware of soldiers’ casualties and I would not have such information until it gets to my desk.”
John Agim, a brigadier-general and spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, directed all enquiries about the attack to Mr Chukwu.
