For the battle-weary troops of Nigeria’s 157 Task Force battalion, it was yet another tough posting in bandit country. Sent to a base in Metele, a remote town in the heart of Boko Haram turf, they knew it was only a matter of time before the enemy came calling.

When they finally did, it was far worse than anyone had feared. Armed with a dozen truck-mounted anti-aircraft weapons, a band of several hundred insurgents raked the base with gunfire for two hours, leaving up to 100 troops dead.

Some who managed to flee into the bush made it to safety, only to then hear their army HQ claiming the battle as a victory.

“The bodies of our troops were littered everywhere, but we watched the news and heard…