Many Soldiers Killed, Thousands flee to Cameroon after ISWAP/Boko Haram attacks on Banki and Freetown
The commanding officer, along with many other soldiers, reportedly abandoned their positions, fleeing to border towns near the Cameroon border, such as Amchide and Limani, for safety, according to security situation reports and local witnesses.
Maiduguri / Yaoundé, (September 24, 2025)
Suspected Fulani terrorists attacked military positions overnight in the Borno State towns of Banki and nearby Freetown, close to the Cameroon border, killing many soldiers and forcing roughly 5,000 people, including civilians and many soldiers.
Security monitoring reports say terrorists linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) staged a coordinated assault that targeted the military base of the 152 TF battalion in Banki, Bama Local Government area of Borno State, and also struck Freetown, around five kilometres from Banki.
Witnesses and conflict researchers said the raid began around midnight on Thursday, with the terrorists entering the town, overrunning military installations, burning armored tanks and other vehicles, and looting large quantities of ammunition.
“Everywhere people were screaming and running,” resident Amina Bakari told AFP after crossing into Cameroon, describing scenes of panic as families fled under cover of darkness. According to a source, the terrorists were in charge of the base which happens to be an operational unit of the Nigerian army for several hours
The Banki–Freetown raid came days after a separate, brutal attack on Darul Jamal, a village recently resettled, where a Boko Haram faction killed dozens of residents in the past. Reports coupled with the governor’s statements put the Darul Jamal toll at around 60 people, and the episode has deepened fear among communities that had only recently been settled there.
Borno state officials have pledged additional protection and humanitarian assistance, but many residents said they remained intent on fleeing rather than returning.
Security analysts warn the attacks illustrate a persistent insurgent capability to strike both military and civilian targets in border areas, complicating efforts to stabilize the Lake Chad region and protect the populations.
The attack is seen by security analysts as a three-pronged advance designed to seize and loot military stores before withdrawing.
Nigerian military spokespeople had not published a full, detailed incident report at the time of this report; and the air force spokesman did not respond to requests by Peoples Chronicles.
Local and nonprofit conflict researchers provided tactical details and estimates, but casualty figures, extent of looting inside the base, and the precise number of fleeing soldiers remain to be independently verified by authorities and humanitarian agencies.
