Boko Haram Launches Fresh Midnight Attack on Military Outpost in Borno
- Suspected Boko Haram fighters have attacked a military outpost in Ajilari, near Maiduguri, in the early hours of Monday, March 16
- Troops, police, CJTF members, and the Air Force responded, forcing the attackers to retreat after a brief exchange
- Residents reported a tense night with gunfire, explosions, and helicopter activity, as security agencies assessed the situation
Suspected Boko Haram fighters launched a late-night attack on a military outpost in Ajilari, a community on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Source: Getty Images
Security sources said the assailants moved into the area around 12:30 am on Monday, March 16. This, however, triggered gunfire and explosions that alarmed nearby residents.
The attack, as disclosed by Daily Trust, reportedly happened at the same time as another confrontation in Baga, where militants were said to have engaged soldiers stationed at the military base.
Troops, supported by police officers, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and the Air Force, quickly responded to the Ajilari assault.
Their intervention also forced the attackers to retreat after a brief exchange.
State police, residents react to attack
The spokesperson for the Borno state Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the incident but said details were still being compiled.
Residents described a tense night as the sound of gunfire spread across nearby communities.
One resident of Gomari, Bashir Yusuf, said people became frightened as shooting and explosions filled the air, while helicopters flew overhead.
“We were very scared, the whole air was taken over by gunshots and explosions. But Alhamdullillah, the situation is calm, and prayers have begun.”
The attack adds to a recent rise in assaults on military positions in the state.
Last week, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, called an emergency meeting with Nigeria’s service chiefs to review the growing security threat. After the meeting, he briefed President Bola Tinubu alongside other senior security officials.
Source: Getty Images
Boko Haram overruns Kukawa base, officer killed
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Boko Haram fighters stormed a military base in Kukawa, Borno state, around 12:30 am on March 9, killing the commanding officer and overwhelming stationed troops.
Attackers set military vehicles ablaze, looted weapons and ammunition, and forced soldiers to withdraw, marking a major loss weeks after the same base successfully repelled a prior assault.
The incident follows separate attacks in Ngoshe, Gwoza LGA. It comes as Joint Task Force troops continue operations under HADIN KAI, with fallen soldiers recently laid to rest at Maiduguri’s Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery.
Troops eliminate Boko Haram commander in Yobe
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Joint Task Force (North East) troops killed Boko Haram/ISWAP commander Abu Yusu and 19 others during coordinated raids in Goniri, Gujba LGA, Yobe state, on March 9–10.
Lt. Col. Sani Uba, OPHK Media Officer, said the terrorists targeted military positions but were overwhelmed, suffering heavy losses, while some troops sustained injuries and were promptly evacuated.
The operation thwarted attempts to encircle military posts, with troops deploying reinforcements and air support.
Source: Legit.ng
