Four members of the Civilian Joint Task Force have been killed and four soldiers declared missing after terrorists stormed a military base in Mayenti, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
Naija News reports that the deadly ambush took place barely 24 hours after the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) released a video showing the execution of Brigadier-General Samaila Uba.
Security sources confirmed to Premium Times on Monday night that the insurgents, riding on motorcycles, attempted to overrun the military facility in Mayenti, a community notorious for terrorist activities and located near Dara Jamal, where more than 60 people were massacred in September.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai were said to have engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun duel, killing several of them. However, the confrontation also claimed the lives of four CJTF operatives.
In their retreat, the terrorists reportedly set ablaze two trucks belonging to the Borno State Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement and murdered four labourers working in the area.
The assault occurred just hours after the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, departed Borno following an operational visit.
The attack also came shortly after the release of the shocking video showing Brigadier-General Uba’s killing.
The officer had survived an ambush on Saturday but lost contact with his troops while awaiting a rescue team. ISWAP fighters later located and executed him, triggering nationwide outrage.
The twin incidents have heightened concerns over Nigeria’s ability to suppress renewed terrorist aggression across the North-East.
Zulum Restates Call For Drones, Tech-Driven Warfare
Reacting to the escalating insecurity, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum renewed his appeal to the Federal Government to invest in drones and advanced surveillance tools.
He said defeating the terrorists requires a coordinated offensive by the Army, Navy and Air Force, targeted at key hideouts — including Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad axis.
Zulum also urged increased funding for the military and the Multinational Joint Task Force, while calling for national unity in confronting the insurgency.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in a separate statement, described the killing of the senior military officer as a dangerous escalation.
He accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to protect citizens and insisted that the President “take necessary steps or resign”, saying Nigeria “cannot continue on its current path.”
His comments followed international attention on Nigeria’s security crisis, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the country’s handling of extremist violence.
The resurgence in ISWAP attacks comes just weeks after the President appointed new military service chiefs. Read Original