A coordinated attack by bandits, as the gunmen are popularly referred to in the local area, on three military bases in northern Nigeria left 17 soldiers dead and four others wounded on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The attacks were carried out in Niger and Kaduna states and rank as one of the deadliest single attacks on Nigeria's military in recent times.
/*Attack Details and Immediate Response*/
The attack on Tuesday on forward operating bases at Kwanar Dutse Mariga and Boka in Niger State, and one in Kaduna State, was confirmed by tribal officials and security sources. According to the official Nigerian Army report, "some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day‑long battles," 17 being killed at Kwanar Dutse Mariga, and four soldiers wounded, who are receiving treatment. The attack was unanticipated, "they came from nowhere and attacked using heavy ammunition," according to one officer. The military quickly fought back, claiming to have killed some of the gunmen during the firefight.
/*Banditry and Regional Background*/
Nigeria's North has endured decades of insecurity caused by armed groups, commonly known as bandits, that kidnap, rustle cattle, and now attack the military. They frequently operate from forest sanctuaries like Kwanar Dutse using stolen weapons and mobile tactics like motorbike-mounted ambushes. The region has also suffered from Boko Haram and IS-linked insurgent spillover, adding complexity to already fragile local security. In comparison, an earlier 2022 ambush in Birnin Gwari claimed the lives of 17 troops, demonstrating the continued threat to soldiers in remote posts.
/*Human Toll and Official Reactions*/
Nigerian Army spokesperson Lt‑Col Appolonia Anele confirmed the deaths and said troops "engaged some 300 bandits" after the attack. She also confirmed airstrikes were directed at retreating attackers, and blood trails indicated heavy casualties among the attackers. Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman of Mariga district, noted the daring nature of the raid: "an ambush… came from nowhere… used heavy ammunition". There have been no civilian casualties reported yet, but locals remain fearful.
/*Strategic and Security Implications*/
The assault underscores Nigeria's northwest chronic security shortfall, where military resources remain thinly spread across multiple fronts of banditry, Islamist insurgencies, and communal violence. Analysts have warned that the magnitude of the ambush, use of heavy weapons, and ability to overrun multiple military bases indicate a more daring and organized enemy. The Birnin Gwari incident in 2022 and other attacks reveal a trend of military vulnerability in remote deployments.