Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly attacked a military outpost in Monguno, Borno State, killing at least 22 soldiers of the Nigerian Army, according to sources familiar with the incident.
The overnight assault is said to have occurred as the military was preparing to launch a renewed offensive against the terrorists, who have recently intensified attacks on security forces in the region.
The affected officer, Colonel I.A. Muhammad, along with his troops, was attached to the 242 Battalion in Borno, an area that has remained a major hotspot in the long-running insurgency that has lasted over 17 years.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian Army did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Meanwhile, a video purportedly showing the attack circulated on social media shortly after the incident.
Colonel Muhammad is reported to be among at least six senior officers killed by Boko Haram fighters within the past two weeks.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to intensify military action against insurgents, as the conflict, ongoing since 2009, continues to challenge successive administrations.
