Several Nigerian soldiers and armed bandits were killed during fierce clashes on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, following simultaneous attacks on military bases in Kaduna and Niger States.
According to The PUNCH, the attacks, which were carried out by armed groups in a coordinated three-pronged assault, targeted forward operating bases in Kwanar Dutse Mairiga and Boka areas of Niger State, as well as Aungwan Turai in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to the Nigerian Army, troops responded swiftly with support from both land and air components, leading to intense firefights that resulted in the deaths of several attackers. However, the military also suffered losses during the confrontation.
“On June 24, 2025, bandits launched a coordinated attack on our bases in the general areas of Kwanar Dutse Mairiga and Boka in Niger State, and Aungwan Turai in Chikun LGA, Kaduna State,” the Army confirmed in a statement released via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.
“Troops from land and air components responded with decisive counterattacks, neutralizing many of the assailants.”
Despite the successful defense, the Army acknowledged that some of its personnel died in the course of the battle.
“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that some of our gallant soldiers paid the supreme price during the encounter. Additionally, four soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical care,” the statement added.
The military has promised to provide further updates as investigations and assessments continue in the affected regions.
These attacks come amid growing concerns over the resurgence of armed violence in parts of northern Nigeria, where military installations and communities have faced repeated assaults from terror groups and bandit militias.
Security analysts say the nature of the coordinated attacks suggests a growing sophistication among armed groups operating in the North West and North Central regions.