A military document obtained by SaharaReporters reveals that 104 Nigerian soldiers from the 162 Amphibious Battalion are reportedly missing weeks after a June 5 attack on the Mandaragirau base in Borno State by suspected ISWAP fighters.The Nigerian Army confirmed the attack and the deaths of five soldiers but has not publicly acknowledged the list of 104 personnel.

According to the internal signal dated June 13, 2026, the soldiers were declared Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) after allegedly failing to return to duty and are said to have left with their service rifles.The document instructs military formations to apprehend the listed personnel.While the Army confirmed the attack and casualties, it has not verified the list.The incident raises concerns as the missing soldiers allegedly took government-owned weapons.This case could be one of the largest instances of soldiers being declared AWOL in Nigeria's ongoing conflict with Boko Haram and ISWAP.The military continues counter-insurgency operations in Borno State under Operation Hadin Kai.