Terrorists have attacked and set ablaze a Nigerian military outpost in Zamfara State, sparking concerns about possible casualties, SaharaReporters has gathered.
The incident occurred around 3am on Saturday at the Jangebe outpost, where armed men launched a surprise attack on military personnel stationed there.
Jangebe is the same Zamfara community where, on 26 February 2021, 279 female students aged 10 to 17 were abducted by bandits from the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding facility.
According to a source who spoke to SaharaReporters, “Bandits attacked the soldiers and dislodged them; it just happened about 3am this morning.”
The source attributed the incident to the military’s limited firepower and lack of essential equipment to effectively fight the terrorists.
“Soldiers put in their best but there was lack of ammunition and there was no vehicle at the location and support weapons. So the bandits overpowered them and burnt down the location,” the source added.
No fatalities have been officially confirmed, although one soldier was reportedly injured and has been taken to a hospital at the 1 Brigade Headquarters for treatment.
Troops engaged in counterinsurgency operations in northern Nigeria have long voiced concerns over being under-equipped and overburdened. Many complain that replacements expected to relieve them have yet to arrive, months after orders were issued for rotation.
The soldiers have said they are increasingly forced to confront deadly groups like Boko Haram and bandits with little support, which has taken a toll on their morale and willingness to keep fighting. This has contributed to a rise in incidents where military camps are overrun by terrorists.
They further alleged that several comrades have lost their lives due to the ongoing challenges with firepower and the shortage of critical combat equipment.
This latest attack adds to growing fears about the Nigerian military’s readiness and capacity to secure volatile regions in the face of persistent terrorist threats.
