In a chilling reminder of the persistent threat posed by insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East, at least four gallant Nigerian soldiers were killed in the early hours of Saturday when Boko Haram terrorists launched a fierce and coordinated assault on the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The attackers, suspected to be members of the Islamic State-backed faction, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), stormed the military base under the cover of darkness, unleashing a barrage of gunfire and explosive devices that caught troops off guard.
According to a military source who narrowly escaped death during the ambush, the terrorists temporarily overran parts of the base, destroyed operational vehicles, and made away with cache of arms and critical equipment.
“We were jolted by the thunderous explosions and the hail of bullets. It was a brutal ambush,” the source revealed. “Despite the shock, we stood our ground. Sadly, we lost four brave men, and the enemy also suffered significant losses. But a lot of our fighting hardware was destroyed in the exchange.”
The Nigerian Army had earlier acknowledged the confrontation via its verified Facebook page, confirming that troops under Operation HADIN KAI were engaged in a “fierce battle” with ISWAP fighters at Buni Gari — another community in the same Gujba LGA.
This latest attack comes less than two weeks after another deadly raid in Buni Yadi, where ISWAP terrorists killed three soldiers and plundered the community’s food supplies and livestock, further amplifying fears of a resurgence in terrorist operations across Yobe and the broader North-East.
Local residents, still reeling from the trauma, described the Saturday attack as lasting over five harrowing hours. “They hit us hard in the dead of night,” one resident told SaharaReporters. “My hometown was under siege. They killed our soldiers and looted foodstuffs and livestock. It’s terrifying, but the army managed to recover three vehicles from the terrorists during their retreat.”
As security forces intensify operations in the troubled region, the audacity of the Buni Yadi attack raises urgent questions about intelligence lapses and the preparedness of military formations stationed in volatile zones.
The Nigerian military has yet to release full casualty figures or confirm the extent of losses suffered. However, the courage and resilience displayed by troops on the frontline continue to underscore the brutal cost of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
PIONEER NEWS 