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Five Nigerian soldiers were reportedly killed after suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters attacked a military base in Borno State.
Security and militia sources, while speaking to AFP on Friday, said the assault took place in Mussa village, Askira Uba Local Government Area, where militants riding motorcycles stormed the base and engaged troops in a gun battle.
Reports of the attack were reported late due to poor telecommunications in the area.
A local anti-terrorist militia member, Adamu Galadima, said the attackers arrived on about 15 motorcycles, with three fighters on each, and began the raid around noon.
He said five soldiers were killed before the troops repelled the attackers.
“The terrorists came on 15 motorcycles, three on each, and attacked the base around noon.
“They killed five soldiers in the attack before they were repelled,” Galadima said.
A separate security report prepared for the United Nations, as seen by AFP, reportedly put the casualty figure at four soldiers and one civilian.
After the attack on the base, the gunmen were said to have moved to nearby Leho village, where they clashed with local vigilantes defending the community before retreating.
No casualties were reported in that encounter.
Communities in Askira Uba and neighbouring Chibok, located near the Sambisa Forest, have faced repeated attacks from ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters operating from camps in the forest.
The latest raid comes after a recent escalation of attacks on military formations in Borno State, resulting in significant losses for the armed forces, including senior officers.
Earlier this week, a brigadier general, a lieutenant colonel and six other soldiers killed in separate insurgent attacks were buried in Maiduguri during a ceremony attended by the Minister of Defence and top military officials.
Nigeria has battled terrorist insurgency in the North-East since 2009.
According to the United Nations, more than 40,000 people have been killed and about two million displaced, while the conflict has also spread into neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
