At least 22 personnel of the Nigerian Army, including a senior officer, have been killed following an overnight attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on a military formation in Borno State.
Security sources disclosed that the incident occurred in Monguno, a town in the North-East state, as troops were said to be preparing for a renewed offensive against insurgent groups in the region.
The slain officer, identified as Colonel I.A. Muhammad, was reportedly attached to the 242 Battalion alongside the other soldiers who lost their lives during the assault.
The attack is the latest in a series of deadly encounters between troops and insurgents, which have heightened concerns over security in the region.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as calls and messages sent to its spokesperson were yet to be responded to.
Meanwhile, a video said to be linked to the incident has surfaced on social media, though its authenticity could not be independently verified.
Sources further indicated that the latest casualty brings to at least six the number of senior military officers reportedly killed by insurgents within the past two weeks.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier pledged to intensify military operations to curb the protracted insurgency, which has lingered since 2009 and continues to pose significant security challenges in the country’s North-East.
