MAIDUGURI — Insurgents from Boko Haram launched a deadly overnight attack on a Nigerian Army base located along the Mandara–Buratai Road in Borno State, according to military sources. The assault, which took place in the early hours of Friday, June 5, 2026, resulted in the deaths of at least eight soldiers.

Details of the Attack

The attack occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m. during heavy rainfall, a tactic often used by insurgents to catch troops off guard. Military insiders reported that the attackers successfully overran portions of the 162 Battalion base, engaging the stationed troops in a brutal gun battle.

Reports indicate that the insurgents carried out a violent assault, resulting in the deaths of eight soldiers, whose bodies were reportedly beheaded. Several other soldiers sustained injuries during the encounter before the attackers withdrew.

Ongoing Security Challenges in Borno

This incident marks yet another violent episode in the long-standing insurgency in Nigeria’s Northeast. Despite ongoing military operations in the region including efforts to clear militant strongholds in the Timbuktu Triangle and surrounding areas Boko Haram and affiliated factions like ISWAP continue to pose a significant threat to military formations and civilian populations in Borno State.

Military authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the specifics of the incident, but security operations in the area have reportedly been intensified following the attack.