Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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NEWS- The Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a probe into last week’s terrorist attacks on a military base in Damboa, Northeast Borno State, that killed six troops.

Tinubu issued a statement and said that the investigation will help identify security lapses to avoid future occurrences.

The Presidential Information Adviser Bayo Onanuga, said that the President called for a comprehensive investigation into the attack on the military base at Sabon Gida in Damboa.

This comes after the Islamic State of West Africa Province militants masterminded the ambush, killing six soldiers on January 4th 2025 and authorities say the investigation will focus on identifying possible intelligence gaps and operational inefficiencies that may have contributed to the incident.

However, Security Analyst Kabir Adamu said the President must be clear about the probe’s objective and its outcome depends on who’s going to conduct the probe.

Adamu said, “If it’s the military themselves, my honest opinion is that it’s because of their lapses that led to the attack, so I don’t expect them to do an effective probe. I would expect an external body or even the national assembly to set up a parliamentary committee. Ordering a probe without really the details of what, who, when, and how the probe will be conducted is a bit vague.”

In the statement, the President also praised the swift intervention of security forces, particularly their air units, during the attack and sent condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and ordered the military to intensify its operations against bandits and terrorists.

According to Adamu, the attack occurred amid ongoing progress in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts that may have been a factor in the terrorists’ mission.

“This particular forward operating base is the only one in that location sandwiched between Alagano and Sambisa Forest. They wanted to cripple the activity of the military which would give them access to about five local governments in southern Borno,” said Adamu. “I don’t see it as a resurgence because it is just one incident. That forward operating base has always been vulnerable,” He said.

Nigeria faces significant security challenges from terrorist groups and criminal gangs, particularly in the northwest and central regions, although the National Defense authorities reported military successes, including the deaths of about 115 terrorists and the arrest of hundreds more.

However, another Security Analyst Ebenezer Oyetakin said continued vigilance is needed, saying that ever since President Bola Tinubu took over reigns of power, there have been drastic moves to contain the terrorists and the country is seeing it in the successes that are being recorded by our military but the fact remains that the country is at war which calls for alertness at all times.

Oyetakin noted that that as Nigerian authorities work to secure the nation, many will be watching to see whether this latest investigation leads to tangible improvements.

Additional Reporting from Associated Press.