A commanding officer of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq, has been confirmed killed during an attack by Boko Haram militants on a military base in Kukawa.

Security sources said the base in Kukuwa town came under a coordinated assault on Sunday by fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province, an ISIS-affiliated faction of Boko Haram. The attackers reportedly overran the base, burned military vehicles and seized ammunition.

Following the attack, the militants were said to have launched further assaults on nearby residents in Kukawa Local Government Area.

A military source confirmed on Monday that Lieutenant Colonel Farouq and several soldiers were killed during the operation. “The commanding officer and some of his troops have been confirmed dead,” the source said.

The incident occurred less than 72 hours after another senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel SI Iliyasu, who commanded the 222 Battalion, was killed alongside some of his men in an attack in Konduga.

In recent weeks, insurgents have intensified attacks on military installations across the North-East. Between Thursday night and early Friday, gunmen launched coordinated assaults on bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte.

Security sources said the attackers set armoured vehicles and other military equipment ablaze and made away with large quantities of ammunition during the raids.

Despite the losses, troops reportedly killed several militants while repelling the attacks. Some of the affected bases were temporarily overrun before reinforcements arrived.

The renewed wave of assaults highlights the continuing security challenges facing troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East.