(VOVWORLD) - Dozens of soldiers were feared dead after a Boko Haram attack on a military base in remote northeast Nigeria, security sources said Monday.
Islamist militants overran the base in Jilli village, in the Geidam area of Yobe state, on Saturday evening, a day after a separate attack on troops in neighboring Borno state. There has been no official comment about Saturday's attack but one military source said 31 soldiers, including three officers, were killed.
A militia member said Boko Haram fighters in military uniform and driving vehicles in army colors were allowed into the base. More than 700 soldiers were at the base at the time and hundreds of them were unaccounted for as of Sunday.
The attack is suspected to have been carried out by fighters loyal to factional leader Abu Mus'ab al-Barnawi, who is backed by the Islamic State.