Nigerians Question Tinubu’s Silence as Boko Haram Overruns Borno Military Base, Kills Soldiers After Declaring State of Emergency in Rivers

Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified attacks in northeast Nigeria. On 25 March 2025, the terrorists overran a key Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Wajiroko, Borno State. At least three soldiers were killed, while several others, including a senior officer, were injured.

The base housed troops of Operation Hadin Kai, a counter-insurgency mission launched in 2021 to combat terrorism and rescue abducted civilians. It also accommodated Operation Desert Sanity IV, a military effort to stabilise areas affected by insurgents. Despite these deployments, the troops could not repel the attackers and were forced to abandon the base.

The attack began around 10:00 p.m. on Monday. Boko Haram launched a coordinated assault that overwhelmed the soldiers. Reinforcement teams and air support arrived on Monday and Tuesday but failed to regain control of the base.

Drone footage reportedly showed soldiers fleeing towards Sabon Gari for safety. Among the injured were Brigadier General U.F. Abubakar, who was leading a reinforcement unit, Lance Corporal Ibrahim Musa, and Private Mohammed Hashim. Three soldiers were confirmed dead, while several others sustained injuries.

Rising Insecurity and Political Outrage 

The fall of the Wajiroko base has sparked criticism of the Bola Tinubu-led government. Some Nigerians question why the administration has not declared a state of emergency despite repeated military setbacks.

The attack came just days after the government celebrated “victory” against insurgency. Many Nigerians took to social media to express their frustration.

A whole military base in Borno is overpowered and taken over by Boko Haram terrorists where scores of our gallant soldiers were murdered. But yeah, that’s not insecurity enough like Rivers State to declare a state of emergency,” one user posted on X.

This attack is not an isolated case. On 25 January 2025, at least 20 soldiers were killed in a similar attack on a remote army base in Malam-Fatori, Borno State. ISWAP militants were suspected to be behind the assault.

Some Nigerians note that the presidency has remained silent despite the worsening security situation. This starkly contrasts its swift declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State just weeks ago.

The Rivers crisis stemmed from a political power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The dispute led to violent clashes and an attempted impeachment. Within days, the federal government intervened, citing security concerns.

Critics argue that the government’s inaction in Borno, where terrorists have repeatedly attacked military bases, suggests a political bias in its response to security threats. Many believe the Rivers declaration was driven by political interests rather than genuine security concerns.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar has announced that 800 soldiers will undergo training by “elite foreign military experts” in Kaduna. The decision has raised questions about why this training is not taking place in Borno, where military bases continue to fall to insurgents.

Neither the Nigerian Army nor the presidency has issued an official statement on the Wajiroko attack.

Read More:

• Tchiani Sworn in as Niger’s Transitional President for Five Years
• Mali: Government Reduces Fuel Prices to Ease Financial Burden on Citizens

About The Author

Confidence Ubani

author

See author's posts

Mayowa Durosinmi

author

M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

See author's posts