Islamist fighters kill 10 soldiers in attack on northeast Nigeria army base

At least 10 Nigerian soldiers were killed and 20 injured in a coordinated attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on an army base in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, military sources announced on Thursday. The assault, which took place on Tuesday night, saw the militants overrun troops, destroy military vehicles, and set fire to parts of a nearby village.

Over 20 people were wounded, while five civilians and a forest guard were reported dead, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to their lack of official authorization to speak to the media.

Before the attack on the military base, the militants had seized over 40 fishing boats in Tumbun Barebari, a village near a lake, according to fisherman Jibrin Hassan. Another fisherman, Babagana Muhammad, stated that the attack was simultaneous, but fishermen were spared, adding, "We were not harmed."

Islamicist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks, despite years of military efforts to curb the 17-year insurgency in the region. Last week, Nigerian troops managed to repel an assault on a military position in Borno state, resulting in the death of over 25 ISWAP fighters, though the toll on their own side was not disclosed.