Over 40 Nigerian Soldiers, Senior Officer Killed in Coordinated ISWAP Attacks on Borno Military Bases

More than 40 Nigerian soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, have been killed following coordinated attacks by militants linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on multiple military bases in Borno State.

The assaults targeted four locations—Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte—between about 10:00 p.m. Thursday and 3:00 a.m. Friday. According to military sources, the attackers arrived in several groups and launched sustained gunfire at the bases, resulting in heavy casualties.

Sources said at least 40 bodies of soldiers had been recovered as of Saturday, though several personnel remain missing.

Among the dead is Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, the commanding officer of the 222 Battalion. He and several members of his unit were reportedly killed during the attack on the Konduga base.

Following the incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, travelled to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he is receiving operational briefings at the Theatre Command headquarters.

A military source said the scale of the losses prompted the emergency visit.

“We have recovered more than 40 bodies so far. Some of our men are still unaccounted for, so we cannot yet confirm the full number of casualties,” the source said.

The attackers reportedly set fire to military equipment during the raids, including armoured vehicles and tanks, and seized ammunition. However, security sources said troops also killed several militants while repelling the assaults.

One source familiar with the operations said the attackers held parts of some bases for several hours before withdrawing.

The bases targeted are located along key routes in northeastern Nigeria. Konduga lies near Bama and within proximity to Maiduguri, while Mainok and Jakana sit along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway. Marte is located beyond Dikwa Local Government Area, close to the border with Chad.

The attacks come amid a renewed wave of violence in Borno State.

Less than 24 hours earlier, militants reportedly attacked a military post in Ngoshe, in Gwoza Local Government Area. After overrunning the position, the fighters carried out an assault on nearby residents, killing civilians and abducting several women.

In recent months, insurgents have repeatedly targeted military positions across the region. Earlier this month, a Nigerian Army major, Ibrahim Mairiga, and several soldiers were killed during an attack on a forward operations base at Banki Junction along the Bama–Gwoza road.

Another assault in February struck a military outpost in Jakana, where attackers burned military vehicles and seized ammunition.

The insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, led primarily by Boko Haram and its ISWAP faction, has lasted more than a decade. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people across the region.

Although Nigerian authorities have often stated that the insurgency has been largely contained, recent attacks on military bases suggest the armed groups retain the ability to launch coordinated operations against security forces.