Suspected Boko Haram fighters, believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), launched a deadly pre-dawn attack on a Nigerian Army base in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday, resulting in multiple casualties and the capture of some soldiers.
Security and local sources confirmed that the assault occurred around 3 a.m. at the Forward Operating Base of the 153 Task Force Battalion. According to a security source who requested anonymity, the troops were overwhelmed by the insurgents, leading to the deaths of several personnel and the capture of others.
“ISWAP has taken control of Marte. Several soldiers were killed, others captured, and many fled toward Dikwa. The surviving troops are now regrouping at the 24 Task Force Brigade in Dikwa,” the source said.
During the raid, the insurgents reportedly set fire to armored vehicles and made away with military weapons and ammunition.
Marte, which lies about 38 kilometers from Dikwa—the headquarters of Dikwa LGA—has remained a volatile zone due to repeated insurgent activity. Residents of Dikwa confirmed hearing intense gunfire during the attack. A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet was seen hovering in the area, but it reportedly failed to halt the militants’ advance.
The Marte attack adds to a worrying pattern of coordinated terrorist offensives in the North-East. In recent weeks, military bases in Sabon Gari, Izge, Wulgo, Buni Yadi, and other communities across Borno and Yobe states have come under siege, often resulting in the withdrawal or dislodgement of troops.
