Military Officers, Civilians Missing Following Boko Haram Ambush in Baga
Uncertainty surrounds the fate of several Nigerian military personnel and civilians following a deadly ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Baga, a community near the fringes of Lake Chad.
The ambush reportedly occurred during a recovery mission aimed at retrieving the bodies of 40 residents killed in an earlier attack by the insurgents.
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A soldier, who spoke to Channels Television on condition of anonymity, revealed that the recovery team—comprising members of the armed forces and civilian volunteers—came under intense fire from the militants.
“Our troops went in search of the dead bodies of civilians killed by the terrorists. We went too far in search of them, and the terrorists ambushed us. There was an exchange of fire, and they killed some of our soldiers,” the soldier explained.
Although the exact number of military casualties remains unclear, it was confirmed that some soldiers are still missing, and efforts to recover the bodies are ongoing.
The recovery team also included approximately 50 civilians, including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local hunters, and vigilantes. These civilians had mobilized to assist in retrieving the bodies of villagers killed in the initial attack.
A civilian source in Baga, also speaking anonymously, reported, “About 50 villagers mobilized to recover the dead bodies, but the terrorists ambushed them. Only one person has returned so far. We are awaiting others.”
The source did not specify the number of military casualties but confirmed that the missing civilians included CJTF members and local hunters.
The ambush followed a gruesome attack on Tuesday in Baga, where 40 residents were killed by Boko Haram. In a separate incident in Gwoza, six people, including five repentant insurgents and members of the CJTF, were reportedly killed.
These attacks underscore the continued challenges posed by Boko Haram’s insurgency, which has left communities vulnerable and strained Nigeria’s security forces.
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