At least 20 security personnel have reportedly died following a suspected terrorist attack on a military base in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The casualties reportedly include 15 Nigerian soldiers and five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). Security sources cited by Premium Times said the attackers launched the assault late on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
According to reports attributed to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the assailants overran the military position, seized weapons and set parts of the facility ablaze. Surviving troops reportedly withdrew towards Monguno, a military garrison town in Borno State.
The attackers are suspected to belong to Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). However, reports have not conclusively established which group carried out the assault.
Both groups have conducted insurgent operations across Borno and other parts of Nigeria’s North-East. Their attacks have frequently targeted military positions and communities.
Military bases can be strategic targets because armed groups seek to weaken security operations and seize weapons and equipment. However, the precise objectives of the attackers in Mairari remain unclear.
The reported death toll has varied across news reports.
Sources cited by Premium Times identified 15 soldiers and five CJTF members among the dead. Reuters, however, reported that at least 10 soldiers were killed and more than 20 people were wounded in the assault.
Reuters also cited sources who reported the deaths of at least five civilians and a forest guard. These details differ from accounts by local officials who said there were no civilian casualties.
The Nigerian military had not publicly confirmed the full casualty figures in the reports reviewed. Therefore, the exact number of people killed, injured or missing remains uncertain.
The Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, Umar Sheriff, confirmed that the military position had come under attack.
In comments reported by Nigerian newspapers, Sheriff said the attackers targeted the military post. He also said he did not have confirmed casualty figures at the time.
Meanwhile, local sources reported heavy gunfire and casualties on both sides. However, the conflicting accounts have made it difficult to establish the full extent of the damage and losses.
The military’s official account remains important for clarifying the number of casualties, the condition of the base and the status of any personnel who may still be missing.
The attack adds to ongoing security concerns in Borno State, a major theatre of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency.
Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009. ISWAP later emerged as a separate faction and expanded its operations around the Lake Chad region.
Both groups have continued to challenge military operations in parts of the North-East. Their activities have contributed to deaths, displacement and disruption to livelihoods across affected communities.
In a separate attack earlier in October, suspected ISWAP fighters targeted a military position in Kukawa, Borno State. The Nigerian Army said troops repelled that assault and killed more than 25 terrorists. The military did not disclose its own casualty figures in its initial account, while other reports cited losses among soldiers.
The reported attack in Mairari highlights the continuing risks faced by military personnel and local security volunteers operating in conflict-affected areas.
However, the available reports do not establish the full circumstances of the assault or confirm all casualty figures. The attackers’ exact affiliation also remains unconfirmed.
An official military statement would help clarify the losses, damage to the installation and any ongoing operations following the attack.
