Zamfara State, Nigeria —
In a brazen and devastating assault, terrorists in the early hours of Saturday stormed and razed a Nigerian military outpost in Jangebe, Zamfara State — a town already haunted by a tragic mass schoolgirl abduction in 2021. The attack has further spotlighted deep-rooted issues plaguing Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts, as soldiers on the frontlines raise serious concerns over chronic under-equipment and neglect by military authorities.
According to exclusive information obtained by SaharaReporters, the terrorists struck the Jangebe military base at approximately 3:00 a.m., catching the stationed soldiers off-guard due to limited firepower and lack of support equipment.
“Bandits attacked the soldiers and dislodged them,” a local security source revealed. “The outpost was overrun, and the entire location was set ablaze. The soldiers fought bravely but had no ammunition, no functional vehicle, and lacked the necessary support weapons.”
The grim aftermath saw one soldier severely injured and evacuated to the 1 Brigade Headquarters medical facility for treatment. While a full casualty report has not yet been confirmed, the destruction of the outpost marks a significant security setback in a region already destabilized by violent insurgent activity.
Jangebe, once again thrust into the national spotlight, is still reeling from the haunting memory of the mass abduction of 279 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Science Secondary School in February 2021. That attack drew global outrage and symbolized the growing menace of rural insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
In the wake of the latest assault, several deployed soldiers voiced frustrations over the military’s handling of frontline operations, citing prolonged deployments, plummeting morale, and a dangerous lack of logistical support.
“We were promised relief months ago. It’s been over three months since we were supposed to be rotated out, and yet we are still here, fighting with our bare hands,” lamented one soldier anonymously. “We’re not just battling terrorists—we’re battling abandonment.”
Reports indicate that many military personnel have fallen in recent months, not due to a lack of courage, but because of the glaring deficit in arms, surveillance tools, and reinforcement logistics. The systemic failure, they argue, is costing lives and emboldening insurgents who now launch more daring attacks with impunity.
This alarming development adds to a growing list of military outposts across the North being overrun by non-state actors, exposing critical vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s national security framework. As the nation mourns another blow to its armed forces, urgent questions are being raised about the government’s commitment to equipping and protecting those risking their lives on the frontlines.
Will the Nigerian military leadership and political class finally heed the call for decisive reform and resourcing of the nation’s security apparatus—or will more bases burn and more lives be lost?
PIONEER NEWS 