6 Soldiers dead, 45 missing as terrorists attack Nigerian Army Base

An attack by terrorists on a military base in Auno, near Maiduguri in Borno State has resulted in the death of six Nigerian soldiers, with 45 unaccounted for.

AFP reports that Insurgents belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed the Military base in machine-gun fitted trucks and attacked the base, men of the Military on Sunday disclosed.

“We lost six soldiers in the attacks which the terrorists launched around 6:30 pm on Saturday,” a Military officer told AFP.

The insurgents over powered the troops during the two-hour battle, “forcing them to withdraw in disarray,” said another Military source who gave a similar story. The insurgents then stole weapons and burnt buildings before they were pushed out with aerial support, the sources said.

A search is ongoing for 45 Soldiers who are still unaccounted for, but we assume they escaped during the attack and are yet to return,” the second source said.

Auno lies on a 120-kilometre highway linking Maiduguri and Damaturu in neighbouring Yobe state.

The area has been repeatedly targeted by militants who attack troops and abduct motorists at bogus checkpoints.

The army is yet to comment on the incident.