First Battle of Damboa

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First Battle of Damboa
Part of Boko Haram insurgency
DateJanuary 9, 2014
Location
Damboa, Borno State, Nigeria
Result Nigerian victory
Belligerents
Nigeria Boko Haram
Units involved

7th Division

  • 195th Battalion
 Unknown
Casualties and losses
1 killed
2 injured		 38+ killed
Many injured

On January 9, 2014, militants from Boko Haram attacked the city of Damboa, Borno State, Nigeria, with the assault being repelled by Nigerian forces. At least 38 militants were killed during the battle. Boko Haram attacked the city for a second time in July 2014, capturing it.

Background

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Boko Haram emerged in 2009 as a jihadist social and political movement in a failed rebellion in northeast Nigeria.[1] Throughout the following years, Abubakar Shekau unified militant Islamist groups in the region and continued to foment the rebellion against the Nigerian government, conducting terrorist attacks and bombings in cities and communities across the region.[2] Several weeks prior to the battle of Damboa, Boko Haram militants attacked the city of Bama, leaving dozens of militants dead.[3] Damboa borders the Sambisa Forest, a known Boko Haram hideout.

Battle

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Colonel Mohammed Dole, a spokesman for the Nigerian Army, stated on January 9 that soldiers from the 195th Battalion had repelled a Boko Haram attack on a military base in Damboa.[4] Dole said the attack occurred at around 1am against the 195th's barracks.[5] The militants were repelled with heavy casualties and many injuries.[4][6] Nigerian authorities said that at least 38 militants were killed, and many others were injured. One Nigerian soldier was killed and two were wounded during the battle.[7] A Nigerian counter-offensive also commenced in the forest against the perpetrators.[4][5] Food, IEDs, and weapons were seized by Nigerian forces.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Walker, Andrew (2016-02-04). "Join us or die: the birth of Boko Haram". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  2. ^ "Nigeria unrest: 'Boko Haram' gunmen kill 44 at mosque". BBC News. 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  3. ^ "Nigeria: une offensive contre Boko Haram tue des civils, détruit des villages". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-09-23.
  4. ^ a b c "Nigeria: Dozens of Boko Haram fighters killed". Al Jazeera. January 9, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Mutum, Ronald; Idris, Hamza (January 10, 2014). "Nigeria: 38 Insurgents, One Soldier Killed in Foiled Borno Attack". Daily Trust via AllAfrica. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  6. ^ Olugbode, Michael; Iroegbu, Senator (January 10, 2014). "Nigeria: Boko Haram Loses 38 Members in Attack Bid on Borno". This Day via AllAfrica. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Nigeria : L'armée affirme avoir tué 38 islamistes de Boko Haram". L'Orient Le Jour. January 9, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2025.