More than 100 Nigerian Army personnel have reportedly been declared missing weeks after a deadly attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Borno State.
The troops, attached to the 162 Battalion along the Mandara–Buratai Road, came under attack in the early hours of June 5 when heavily armed terrorists stormed their position during a rainstorm.
According to security sources, the assault left a Major and at least seven other soldiers dead, while several personnel sustained injuries. The attackers reportedly overwhelmed parts of the military base, forcing many soldiers to flee the area.
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Weeks after the incident, military authorities are said to be unable to account for 104 soldiers who were deployed at the base before the attack. Their whereabouts remain unknown, with uncertainty over whether they were killed, captured, or escaped during the raid.
Internal military communication reportedly declared the missing personnel deserters, stating that they abandoned their duty posts following the attack while allegedly leaving with their personal weapons.
The signal directed security formations across the country to apprehend any of the listed soldiers if found.
Sources also claimed that the bank accounts of the affected personnel had been frozen pending further investigations.
The Nigerian Army has not officially commented on the reported disappearance of the soldiers or provided an update on the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident underscores the continuing security challenges facing troops battling Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East.
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