Suspected members of Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, have reportedly attacked a military base in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least three soldiers dead and four others injured.
The early morning assault, which occurred around 3 a.m., targeted a military camp in Kemanji village, located near Kainji National Park—an area believed to serve as a hideout for armed groups operating in the region.
According to local sources and security operatives, the attackers stormed the base and opened fire on soldiers in a surprise raid.
“The terrorists came directly to the military camp and opened fire on soldiers,” a forest guard working alongside security forces said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. “They killed three soldiers and injured four others, including a local vigilante.”
Another source within the community disclosed that security operatives were able to repel the attack, reportedly killing several of the assailants during the exchange of gunfire.
However, the attackers allegedly made away with military assets, including eight operational motorcycles and a gun truck.
While multiple armed groups are known to operate within the forested areas around the park, sources attributed the attack specifically to Ansaru fighters, citing previous encounters and similar patterns of operation in the area.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian military nor the police authorities in Kwara State have issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over security around the Kainji axis, an area that has increasingly drawn attention due to the presence of insurgent elements and its proximity to key national assets.