Islamist Fighters Launch Coordinated Attacks on Nigerian Military Base-Kill 16

Suspected Islamist militants, believed to be members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), carried out simultaneous assaults on two military installations in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State killing at least 16 people according to reports by Reuters.

The first attack occurred around 9:00 PM GMT on Monday at an army base in Wajiroko, where insurgents set military equipment ablaze. A soldier from the Wajiroko brigade reported that at least four soldiers were killed, including the brigade commander, and several others sustained injuries. Air force jets later arrived for reinforcement, engaging the attackers and inflicting significant casualties, though control of the base remains uncertain.

Concurrently, militants targeted a military outpost in Wulgo, a village near the Cameroonian border. Cameroon's Defence Ministry confirmed that 12 soldiers were killed and a dozen others injured in this assault. A military source indicated that the attackers may have initially used drones before advancing with a ground assault, looting a significant stockpile of weapons during the raid.

These incidents underscore the escalating challenges faced by Nigerian and regional forces in combating insurgent groups operating in the area.