Several Soldiers Feared Dead After ISWAP Attack on Army Base in Borno

Several Nigerian soldiers are feared dead following an early morning attack by fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on an army outpost in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Military sources said the attackers entered the town along the Maiduguri–Damaturu Road in multiple groups, firing indiscriminately before directing explosives at the military facility on Friday.

A senior military source said casualties were recorded among troops stationed at the base. The bodies of affected personnel were reportedly moved to the 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri. The exact number of casualties has not been officially confirmed.

According to the sources, the assailants set fire to armoured vehicles and other military equipment during the assault and carted away an unspecified quantity of ammunition. Some soldiers were said to have retreated into surrounding areas during the attack.

The incident follows a series of recent assaults on military formations in the state. Days earlier, troops were killed in a separate attack on a base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area.

On January 26, 2025, seven military personnel, including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel, were killed in an ambush while travelling from Maiduguri to Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly used explosives and sustained gunfire. Several others were injured, while some personnel remain unaccounted for.

Security analysts note that ISWAP has expanded its operational presence in parts of Borno and areas around Lake Chad, especially after the death of former Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, which led to defections of fighters into the ISWAP faction.

The Nigerian Army has maintained that insurgent activity has been significantly reduced in recent years, though attacks on remote bases and patrol units continue to be reported.

The conflict in the North-East has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.