SUSPECTED members of the extremist group Boko Haram early this morning launched an assault on a military facility in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Reports reveal that the attackers targeted the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa at about 12:50 a.m.
The incident occurred less than 30 minutes after suspected fighters linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province carried out another attack in Ajilari Cross and nearby areas of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Residents said the earlier attack in Ajilari was eventually repelled after several minutes of sporadic gunfire subsided.
The spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force in the state, Nahum Daso, confirmed that security operatives successfully prevented the attackers from infiltrating the community.
In a brief statement, Daso said joint security forces foiled the attempted attack in Damboa at about 1:00 a.m., restoring calm to the area.
He added that further details would be provided as investigations continue.
Although official information remained limited at the time of reporting, residents in the area confirmed hearing gunshots close to the military base.
One resident, who asked not to be identified, said the militants attempted to enter the town through the military facility but were met with strong resistance from security personnel.
The source described the night as frightening for residents, noting that news of the attempted infiltration quickly spread across the community.
He expressed relief that the security forces were able to repel the attack.
Efforts to obtain additional comments from the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, Sanni Uba, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to him were not answered.
The incident comes just two weeks after insurgents attacked and destroyed a military base in Ngoshe, where civilians were reportedly killed and more than 300 residents abducted.
Less than two days after that attack, the group Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad claimed responsibility, warning that it intended to expand its operations to Maiduguri and even the nation’s capital, Abuja.
