Suspected bandits have attacked a Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Army in Mandaragira, Borno State, killing five soldiers and carting away some major equipment useful to military operations.

The attack occurred at about 3:00 a.m. on Friday. It also claimed the lives of three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), while those wounded in the crossfire were airlifted by the Air Component Command for medical treatment.

Lieutenant Colonel Haruna M. Sani, Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, disclosed this in a statement.

He said troops neutralised scores of insurgents during the attack, adding that troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mandaragira under 25 Brigade, Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI, had taken all necessary measures to protect communities and sustain relentless pressure on the insurgents through the deployment of additional troops and critical combat enablers across the North-East theatre.

The statement further revealed that, “Troops remain firmly in control of the FOB and continue to dominate the general area, while exploitation operations are ongoing for consolidation.”