Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Nigerian troops have recaptured the Forward Operating Base in Ngoshe, a strategic military camp in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, after a series of intense battles with Boko Haram insurgents who had seized the position during a deadly attack earlier in March. The operation marks a significant but hard-fought development in the ongoing conflict in northeastern Nigeria, where insurgent groups continue to challenge military positions and civilian communities.
The Ngoshe camp had fallen into insurgent hands after militants launched a coordinated assault on the town and military installation around March 3–4, 2026. During that attack, fighters linked to Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), descended from hideouts in the Mandara Mountains and surrounding forest areas, overwhelming soldiers stationed at the base after several hours of fighting.
Security sources said the insurgents attacked the base at night, arriving in large numbers and using heavy weapons during the assault. The troops stationed at the facility were reportedly forced to retreat after sustaining casualties and running low on ammunition. At least nine soldiers were killed in the battle, according to security sources, while other reports suggested the death toll among troops and civilians may have been higher.
After overrunning the military camp, the insurgents advanced into the nearby Ngoshe community, unleashing widespread violence on residents. Local officials and community leaders reported that the attackers killed civilians, including the town’s chief imam and several elders. Houses were looted and burned, and the militants reportedly seized weapons and ammunition from the military base.
One of the most alarming aspects of the attack was the large-scale abduction of civilians. Local authorities and humanitarian sources indicated that more than 100 women and children were taken away by the insurgents during the raid, while some reports suggested the number of abductees could exceed 300. Many of those kidnapped were residents who had recently returned to Ngoshe after years of displacement caused by the insurgency.
The assault triggered a wave of displacement across the region. Thousands of residents fled Ngoshe and surrounding settlements as the insurgents occupied the town. Many civilians escaped toward Pulka and other nearby communities considered safer, leaving Ngoshe largely deserted in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
In response to the loss of the military base, the Nigerian Army launched a counter-offensive involving ground troops supported by local security groups including the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, and community vigilantes. The operation lasted several days and involved intense gun battles between troops and insurgents in and around the Ngoshe area.
Military sources said the counter-operation eventually succeeded in dislodging the insurgents from the camp and surrounding positions. After heavy fighting, Nigerian forces re-entered the base and regained control of the facility. Clearance operations were subsequently launched to search nearby areas for remaining insurgents and to secure the general vicinity of the camp.
A senior military source confirmed that troops were once again stationed inside the Ngoshe base after the offensive. According to the source, soldiers engaged the insurgents in prolonged firefights before forcing them to retreat into surrounding forests and mountainous terrain. Security forces are now conducting follow-up operations to prevent the militants from regrouping and returning to the area.
Despite the recapture of the camp, the situation in the surrounding community remains uncertain. Many of the civilians abducted during the attack are still missing, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Humanitarian groups and local authorities fear that the captives may have been taken deeper into insurgent-controlled territories in the Mandara Mountains or into remote areas near the Cameroon border.
Local leaders have expressed concern about the scale of destruction caused by the initial attack. Community representatives say homes, shops, and public facilities in Ngoshe were damaged during the assault, leaving returning residents uncertain about when they can safely rebuild their lives.
The attack and subsequent recapture of the base also highlight the broader security challenges facing northeastern Nigeria. Borno State remains the epicentre of the country’s long-running insurgency, which began in 2009 and has since killed tens of thousands of people while displacing more than two million residents across the region. Insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to operate across the Lake Chad Basin, exploiting difficult terrain, porous international borders, and limited state presence in remote communities.
In recent weeks, the insurgents have intensified attacks on military installations across the region, targeting bases and attempting to seize weapons and vehicles. Security analysts say these attacks are often designed to weaken the military’s operational capacity and demonstrate the continued strength of insurgent groups despite ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
Political leaders from Borno State have urged the military to intensify operations against insurgent strongholds in the Mandara Mountains and Sambisa Forest, areas that continue to serve as strategic hideouts for militant groups. They also called for increased protection of resettled communities that remain vulnerable to sudden attacks.
Stone Reporters note that while the recapture of the Ngoshe military camp represents a tactical success for Nigerian forces, the broader security situation in southern Borno remains fragile. With hundreds of civilians still missing and many residents displaced, authorities face the difficult task of stabilizing the area, rescuing abductees, and preventing further insurgent attacks in the region.
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