A classified military document has listed 104 Nigerian Army soldiers as deserters following a Boko Haram attack on their base in Borno State.
The soldiers were attached to the 162 Amphibious Battalion along the Mandara–Buratai Road.
According to the document obtained by SaharaReporters, the soldiers were declared to have “absconded” from their duty post with their personal weapons after the attack.
The attack, which occurred on June 5, reportedly left at least eight soldiers dead.
“At the 162 Battalion on Mandara–Buratai Road, eight soldiers were killed in action. They attacked us at 4 a.m. today, Friday, when it was raining,” a military source said.
“They killed eight soldiers and beheaded them. Several others were injured during the attack,” the source added.
A military signal marked “RESTRICTED” reportedly declared the 104 personnel deserters more than three weeks after the attack.
“The above-named soldier and 103 others absconded from their place of deployment to an unknown destination on June 5, 2026, with their personal weapons after the BHT/ISWAP attack on our location,” the signal read.
“In view of the foregoing, I am directed to respectfully affirm that the said soldiers have not reported back for duty and are hereby declared deserters with effect from that date,” it added.
Military sources said authorities had frozen the bank accounts of the affected personnel and directed formations to apprehend any of them found within their areas of responsibility.
The breakdown of the affected soldiers includes one Staff Sergeant, three Sergeants, seven Corporals, 38 Lance Corporals and 55 Privates.
The Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
The full names of the affected personnel and their ranks are below:
STAFF SERGEANT
1. Staff Sergeant Idris Mohammed, Army No. 98NA/46/1906.
SERGEANTS
2. Sergeant Omotoyinbo Samuel, Army No. 04NA/55/0901.
3. Sergeant Oyinbo John, Army No. 09NA/64/5990.
4. Sergeant Folorunsho Michael, Army No. 03NA/53/1791.
CORPORALS
5. Corporal Onumaru Felix, Army No. 12NA/68/6732.
6. Corporal Adenekan Amos, Army No. 13NA/70/8004.
7. Corporal Basiru Garba, Army No. 13NA/70/7338.
8. Corporal Fatoki Olusegun, Army No. 13NA/70/6585.
9. Corporal Abu Mohammed, Army No. 13NA/70/3372.
