Paul Rogers has written a long commentary on Nigeria, within he says:
There is a strong argument that the movement's violent approach is alienating the public in the areas affected. But this itself makes a specific action early on 2 December 2013 very significant. A Boko Haram operation involving scores - possibly hundreds - of paramilitaries was launched close to the city of Maiduguri, the site of Boko Haram’s foundation and long a centre of support.
Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/paul-ro...a-and-long-war

He then cites a UK newspaper report:
Boko Haram fighters] streamed towards Maiduguri city in the early hours of Monday in pick-up trucks and on motorcycles, before opening fire with rockets and small arms on a military base. After a five-hour battle, two helicopters, three under-repair fighter jets, vehicles, officers' housing, workshops and regimental buildings had been destroyed.
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...n-Nigeria.html

Rightly Paul notes:
A bigger problem for the government, though, was the very fact that the militants were able to overrun the base with every evidence of impunity.
Not that such attacks have not happened before in Nigeria and other, better known campaigns. After all (sigh, personal theme cometh ) terrorism is armed propaganda.