By: Manoah Kikekon
KUKAWA — A wave of coordinated terror has once again swept through Borno State as suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a devastating assault on a military base and civilian community in Kukawa town on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
The attack, described by security sources as "highly sophisticated," resulted in an unconfirmed number of fatalities, including both Nigerian Army personnel and local residents. The insurgents reportedly utilized heavy weaponry and explosives to overpower the base, which is situated approximately 150 kilometers from the state capital, Maiduguri.
In a pattern that has become alarmingly frequent in the North East "Hadin Kai" theater of operations, the terrorists focused their aggression on military hardware and logistics. Eyewitnesses and military sources confirmed that the gunmen:
Torched Armoured Tanks: Several military vehicles and tanks were set ablaze after the base was overrun.
Looted Ammunition: Large quantities of "unquantifiable" arms and ammunition were carted away by the retreating militants.
Destroyed Infrastructure: Community buildings and military shelters were razed to the ground during the hours-long occupation.
"These terrorists have been regrouping again," a frontline source told SaharaReporters. "They took over the base for hours without air support, burning everything they couldn't carry."
The Kukawa incident is part of a broader, more lethal surge in insurgency activity across Borno State this month. Only days prior, simultaneous attacks were launched on four other military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte.
These coordinated strikes have taken a heavy toll on the Nigerian Army's leadership. Among the fallen is Lieutenant Colonel SI Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, who was reportedly killed alongside his men during an ambush in Konduga. Reports indicate that over 40 corpses of soldiers have been recovered from these recent battlegrounds.
The violence has not been restricted to the military. In Ngoshe (Gwoza LGA), a community that had recently seen residents return under a government resettlement program, terrorists slaughtered over 100 civilians and abducted more than 300 women and children.
The assault on Ngoshe, which also targeted an IDP camp, has forced thousands to flee once again, casting a shadow over the "Safe Resettlement" promises made by the state government.
Security analysts warn that the recent "deadly cooperation" between Boko Haram factions and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) is significantly raising the stakes. The use of drone technology and nocturnal precision suggests that the insurgents are shifting from tactical raids to a more strategic campaign to control key border corridors near Chad and Niger.