Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault on the 149 Battalion military base in Malam-Fatori, Borno State, on Friday, January 24, 2025, leaving over 20 Nigerian Army personnel dead, including the battalion’s commanding officer and two senior officers.
The attack, which lasted for several hours, also resulted in significant destruction as the terrorists stormed the base using multiple gun trucks, burning buildings and military vehicles. Many soldiers were seriously injured, while others remain missing. Malam-Fatori, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic, has been a refuge for thousands displaced by the ongoing insurgency.
Sources confirmed that the medical director of the base was among those killed. The assault comes just days after a similar attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, where casualties and missing personnel were reported.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks. The group, which has gained strength following the death of Boko Haram’s former leader Abubakar Shekau, has expanded its operations around the Lake Chad region, bolstered by defections from former Shekau loyalists.
Despite these developments, the Nigerian Army has maintained its stance that insurgency in the region is largely under control. However, the rising toll from attacks, which have claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced millions in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, continues to challenge such assertions.
The assault highlights the ongoing security challenges in the northeast as the insurgents maintain their grip in key areas, posing a significant threat to military operations and civilian safety.
