ABUJA – At least 104 Nigerian Army personnel have reportedly been declared missing weeks after a deadly Boko Haram attack on a military formation in Borno State, raising fresh concerns over the scale of casualties suffered during the insurgents’ renewed offensive in the North-East.
According to military sources, the missing personnel were part of troops deployed to confront Boko Haram fighters during a fierce battle that left several soldiers dead, others wounded and dozens unaccounted for.
The development has reportedly triggered an internal search operation by the military as authorities work to determine the fate of the missing personnel, amid fears that some may have been killed, captured or remain stranded in remote operational areas.
Security sources said the attack ranks among the most devastating suffered by troops in recent months, highlighting the growing intensity of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operations despite ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns in the region.
Although the Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement confirming the reported figure of missing personnel, sources familiar with the operation said efforts are ongoing to locate the affected soldiers through aerial surveillance, ground patrols and intelligence gathering.
The reported incident comes as security forces continue to battle insurgent groups across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where attacks on military formations and civilian communities have increased in recent weeks.
Military analysts say the incident underscores the need for enhanced intelligence, improved battlefield support and stronger operational coordination to counter the evolving tactics of insurgent groups operating in the North-East.
The Defence Headquarters is expected to provide further clarification as investigations into the incident continue.
