SAA event in Nigeria on Mon 19th January 2026

At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed and about 50 others wounded after Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military formation in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, security sources said on Wednesday.

The assault took place on Monday near the Timbuktu Triangle, a remote area that has long been a militant stronghold.

According to the sources, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and in armoured vehicles before engaging government forces in a heavy gun battle.

A military source said the targeted formation was part of an ongoing offensive aimed at flushing out insurgents from the Timbuktu Triangle.

The area, which stretches across parts of Borno State, is known for its difficult terrain and limited access, conditions that have allowed militants to operate for more than a decade.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Nigerian military said its troops had cleared several Islamist strongholds in the triangle and disrupted planned attacks involving vehicle borne improvised explosive devices.