Troops of the Nigerian Army have repelled a deadly ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on a military base along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway, near Ngamdu town in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, led to a prolonged gun battle between the insurgents and security forces stationed at the base.
Eyewitnesses said the highway was temporarily closed to civilian traffic, causing delays for travellers until around 11:20 a.m.
“I left Damaturu very early with the hope of arriving in Maiduguri by 9 a.m., but at Ngamdu the road was shut. Security personnel advised us to wait,” a commuter told reporters.
Local sources said the insurgents launched a surprise attack, catching the troops off guard, but were eventually forced to retreat after facing stiff resistance.
“The fighting was intense and lasted for hours. Some soldiers were killed or injured, but the attackers also suffered heavy losses,” a resident said.
A military source confirmed the incident but downplayed the casualty figures.
“There was an attempt to ambush our troops, but it was swiftly repelled. Our men fought gallantly,” he said.
“Some soldiers sustained injuries and have been taken to hospital, while many of the insurgents were neutralised.”
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Army has not issued an official statement on the incident.
The Maiduguri–Damaturu highway is a critical corridor for civilian and military movement in the North-East and has been the target of multiple insurgent attacks in recent years.
