Gunmen Attack Military Barracks in Borno State, Seize Weapons

• Suspected insurgents stormed Banki town in Nigeria’s Borno State, seizing weapons from a military barracks after troops reportedly fled
• The attack, which began late Thursday night, left several dead and forced security personnel to retreat across the border into Cameroon
• Residents say the assault marks a troubling escalation in militant violence across northeastern Nigeria

Suspected insurgents launched a coordinated assault on the border town of Banki in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, seizing weapons from a military barracks after soldiers reportedly fled the scene, residents and security sources confirmed on Friday.

The attack, which began around 2130 GMT on Thursday and continued into the early hours of Friday, targeted Banki in Bama district, a region long plagued by insurgent violence.

According to an internal memo from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a paramilitary group assisting the Nigerian military in combating Islamist militants, the insurgents overwhelmed the town and breached the military barracks.

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“The insurgents overran the town and entered the military barracks, seizing ammunition and weapons. The commanding officer and soldiers reportedly abandoned their positions, fleeing towards Cameroon and leaving civilians behind,” read the memo seen by Reuters.

A soldier from the 152 Battalion, stationed in Banki, said the attackers arrived in large numbers and engaged in heavy gunfire, forcing security personnel to retreat. The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement in response to the incident.

Banki town faces renewed insurgent threat

Banki has been a flashpoint in Nigeria’s decade-long insurgency, previously occupied by Boko Haram fighters and frequently targeted by both Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants.

The latest attack depicts the persistent threat in the region, despite recent counterinsurgency operations by the Nigerian military aimed at dismantling militant networks in Borno State.

Aliyu Haruna, a resident of Banki, reported seeing at least seven bodies in the aftermath of the assault, including those of three soldiers. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the death toll.

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“Both military and paramilitary personnel fled to Cameroon, and it was only this morning that they returned,” Haruna told Reuters by phone.

The escalation in attacks this year has heightened fears among civilians and raised questions about the effectiveness of ongoing security measures in Nigeria’s northeast.

Bandits kill retired officer, two others in fresh Plateau attack

Legit.ng earlier reported that armed bandits killed a retired police officer, Ayuba Bako, and two others after attacking two communities in Plateau state.

The gunmen suspected to be Fulani militant groups attacked Farin-Lamba, Jos South local government area, and Dahot village, Wereng Community, Riyom local government area, on Friday, May 23, 2025. The President of Berom Youths Moulder-Association, Solomon Mwantiri, said Bako and 27-year-old James Bulus Kwanga were killed in Farin-Lamba while 23-year-old Ishaya Davou Bature, was killed in Dahot village.

As reported by The Punch, Mwantiri said the gunmen used a Peugeot 406 vehicle and approached the communities on footpaths. He said the attackers strategically positioned themselves before launching the assault. He stated this in a statement issued on Friday, May 23, 2025, after the deadly attacks.

Source: Legit.ng