Suspected Boko Haram militants have carried out coordinated assaults on three military bases in Rann, Gajiram, and Dikwa in Borno State, resulting in the deaths of at least four soldiers.
Security and local sources confirmed that these attacks took place early Tuesday morning, with reports indicating that the military managed to repel the insurgents in Dikwa and Gajiram, causing significant losses among the attackers.
This wave of violence occurred less than a day after militants targeted a military base in Marte, leaving an unspecified number of soldiers dead and several still unaccounted for.
According to security officials, the assault on the military outpost in Rann led to the deaths of four soldiers, while six others sustained injuries.
Eyewitnesses described seeing the bodies of four fallen soldiers and several injured personnel, though they could not confirm the exact number of wounded.
The attackers reportedly withdrew when a fighter jet arrived at the scene to support the military.
Notably, in 2017, a Nigerian air force fighter jet mistakenly bombed a refugee camp in Rann during an operation against Boko Haram, killing dozens of civilians and injuring many others. The air force later clarified that the jet had misidentified the camp as a target.
Rann is a remote community in Kala-Balge Local Government Area, located in the far northeastern region of Borno State, roughly 175 to 200 kilometers east of Maiduguri, the state capital. The area is difficult to access due to poor road conditions and persistent security threats.
Travel to Rann is challenging, with unpaved, deeply rutted roads often becoming impassable during the rainy season. Armed escorts are typically necessary due to the ongoing insurgent threat. Additionally, Rann’s proximity to the Cameroonian border makes it strategically significant but also exposes it to cross-border militant incursions.