Terrorists, suspected to be Boko Haram/ISWAP, have killed a military commander, two senior officers, and 17 soldiers at a military base in Malam-Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

This is coming two days after 20 fishermen were reportedly killed the Gadan Gari fishing community, Bama Local Government Area of the state.

Bama is located in Borno Central, while Malam-Fatori, in the northern part of the state, lies near the border with the Republic of Niger.

A similar incident occurred a few weeks ago when terrorists invaded a military base in the Sabon Gari community of Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State, killing several soldiers, including officers.

Reliable sources reported that the attackers, who stormed the Malam-Fatori military base, wreaked havoc for several hours on Friday, 24 January 2025, before dislodging the 149 Battalion. Survivors of the deadly attack reportedly fled to safety.

Intelligence sources confirmed that the insurgents arrived at the base in multiple gun trucks, razing several buildings and military operational vehicles during the assault.

“Many soldiers were seriously injured, and a yet-to-be-ascertained number of personnel remain missing as of Saturday,” one source said.

“The commanding officer of the battalion, two senior officers, including the base medical director, were among those killed. This comes just days after the terror group launched a brutal attack on the military’s Forward Operating Base in Damboa, killing an unconfirmed number of soldiers, with many still missing.

“The 25 Taskforce Brigade was attacked over the weekend with heavy casualties. So far, over seven bodies have been recovered. The terror group invaded the FOB Sabon Gari camp around 4 am on Saturday, using various weapons,” the source added.

Meanwhile, in the Gadan Gari attack in Bama, Modu Ari, a member of the civilian joint task force, reported that insurgents stormed the fishing community on Wednesday at about 11:00 am, opening fire on fishermen, killing at least 20.

Mustapha Kachallah, a resident, said his child was killed in the attack, and they had buried more than 15 people.

The military and Borno State officials were yet to comment on the attacks.

Since November last year, there has been a resurgence of terrorist attacks across Borno State. Before these two incidents, over 40 farmers were killed in Dumba, a fishing and farming community in Kukawa Local Government Area.

The current situation calls for urgent action from the federal government and the Nigerian military to restore the relative peace previously enjoyed in the region. This is especially critical as the state government continues its efforts to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their ancestral homes.

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper in Kontagora Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement at the weekend said the suspect, Nasiru Isyaka and members of the gang invaded Sabon-Gari Mangu Matachibu village, k!lled a victim and kidnapped two others.

According to the PPRO, the suspect, who hails from Sabon-Gari Mangu Matachibu village, was arrested when he visited one of the rescued victims in his home and was identified to be one of the kidnappers.

“On January 17th, 2025 at about 10am, Police operatives of ‘A’ Div Kontangora arrested one Nasiru Isyaka of Sabon-Gari Mangu Matachibu village via Kontagora,” the statement read.

“The suspect was arrested in connection with a kidnapping incident that occurred on December 29th, 2024 at the same village, where some armed men invaded the village, shot a victim dead and kidnapped two others, but were later rescued through a joint security effort.

“In the course of preliminary investigation, the suspect was arrested when he visited one of the victims in his home, and he was identified to be one of the kidnappers.

“One locally made short gun was recovered from him and he confessed to the crime.

“He has also been transferred to the Police headquarters, Minna for an in-depth investigation and prosecution.

“Effort is ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.”

The Delta State Police Command has begun an investigation into the killing of a lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, Prof Emeka Chukwuma.

Gunmen killed Chukwuma on Friday after returning to his hometown, Umueji in Asaba, for his usual weekend activities.

According to a source, the 56-year-old professor usually spent his weekends at Umueji.

He said, “Prof Emeka Chukwum was assassinated in Asaba on Friday night. He was a lecturer at the Delta State University, Abraka, Anwai campus, but later went to Abraka campus after the conversion of Anwai campus to Dennis Osadebey University.

Prof Chukwuma usually came home every weekend; it unfortunate that he came back yesterday (Friday) for his usual weekend and was assassinated in his place at St. Bridges area of Umueji quarter, in Asaba.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bright Edafe, who confirmed the killing, said the police were investigating the matter, promising that the perpetrators will.

He said, “Yes, it is confirmed, they have reported the matter to the police, and we are looking into the incident”