Hundreds of troops unaccounted for as Boko Haram attack military base in Yobe State

HUNDREDS of Nigerian troops have reported gone missing after Boko Haram attacked their military base at Jilli village in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State over the weekend and engaged them in a fierce battle.

In what appears to be a big resurgence, Boko Haram have stepped up their attacks on the Nigerian Army over the last week as this was the second such assault in a few days. Apparently, the militants attacked the base holding more than 700 soldiers, where they had abducted over 100 girls from a school earlier this year

Following the Saturday attack, which took place just 24 hours after Boko Haram fighters ambushed a military convoy in neighbouring Borno state on Friday, less than 100 soldiers have returned. These assaults have highlighted the tenuous hold Nigerian forces have on the ravaged region despite claims by President Muhammadu Buhari's government that the country is in a post-conflict stabilisation phase.

One military source said: "Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops of the 81st Division Forward Brigade at Jilli village in Geidam district. The terrorists came in huge numbers around 19.30 and overran the base after a fierce battle that lasted until 9.10 pm.

"The base had 734 troops and currently, the commander of the base and 63 soldiers have made it to Geidam, 60km away, while the remaining 670 are being expected.  We don't know if there were any casualties among the troops but that will be known later."

According to a leader of a local anti-jihadist militia, the soldiers sustained casualties but he was unable to give a toll, attributing the attack to the Abu-Mus'ab Al-Barnawi faction of Boko Haram. It is believed that the terrorists caught the troops by surprise and overwhelmed them.

"We learned that they drove from Lake Chad through Gubio in nearby Borno State and attacked the base," the military source added.  He pointed out that around 100 terrorists had attacked the convoy in Borno State earlier.