Troops have recaptured a forward operating base in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, following days of intense fighting with insurgents, even as the Senate observed a minute of silence for soldiers killed in a wave of recent attacks in the North-East.
The operation, carried out by the military alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local vigilantes and hunters, restored control of the Ngoshe base after terrorists overran the facility earlier this month. Security sources said the troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle before successfully reclaiming the town and surrounding military formation.
A military source confirmed that troops are now firmly in control of the base while clearance operations continue to secure the area and prevent further infiltration by insurgents.
The recapture followed a deadly assault on the community by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, who attacked the town at night and overran the military position.
Security sources said at least 14 soldiers were killed during the attack, while insurgents also killed community leaders including the chief imam and abducted scores of residents, mostly women and children.
Local officials and reports indicated that more than 100 civilians were initially reported missing or abducted during the raid, while thousands of residents fled the community and sought refuge in nearby Pulka.
International reports later suggested the number of abducted residents could be significantly higher, with estimates exceeding 300 people taken during the assault.
Following the initial attack, troops reportedly carried out a tactical withdrawal while reinforcements were mobilised from nearby locations. The military later launched a coordinated counter-offensive, supported by local security volunteers, to retake the base and surrounding community.
Air strikes conducted by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai were also deployed to target fleeing insurgents along escape routes in the Ngoshe–Pulka corridor.
Military sources said the operation lasted several days before troops regained full control of the base.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday paid tribute to soldiers killed in separate insurgent attacks in Borno State.
During plenary, lawmakers observed a minute of silence in honour of troops who died during a coordinated assault on a military formation in Kukawa Local Government Area.
The motion was moved by Borno North senator Mohammed Monguno, who said suspected insurgents launched the attack from multiple directions in a battle that lasted several hours.
According to him, the attack claimed the lives of several soldiers, including a commanding officer who played a key role in stabilising the area after previous insurgent incursions.
Lawmakers described the renewed wave of attacks across the North-East as alarming and called for stronger counter-insurgency measures.
The Senate urged the Armed Forces to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and logistical support to troops on the frontlines.
Security analysts have warned that insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, have recently intensified attacks on military facilities and communities across Borno State, targeting isolated bases and using hit-and-run tactics.
