Terrorists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly killed over 40 Nigerian soldiers, including a Battalion Commander, in a series of coordinated midnight raids on four military bases across Borno State.
A devastating security breach has claimed the lives of at least 40 Nigerian soldiers following simultaneous attacks by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants on four military bases in Borno State. The coordinated assaults, which occurred between 10:00 p.m. on Thursday and 3:00 a.m. on Friday, targeted facilities in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte. Military sources confirmed that the terrorists arrived in overwhelming numbers, firing sporadically and overrunning defensive positions. As of Saturday morning, over 40 bodies have been recovered, though fears remain that the death toll could rise as several personnel are still reported missing in action.
The Nigerian Army suffered a significant leadership blow during the encounter with the death of Lieutenant Colonel SI Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion. Iliyasu and several of his men were reportedly killed while defending the military base in Konduga. The scale of the carnage has prompted an emergency response from the military high command, with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arriving in Maiduguri on Saturday morning for an urgent operational briefing at the Theatre Command Headquarters. “We lost over 40 soldiers to those attacks. It’s so sad; we still can’t find some of our men, can’t say if they are alive or dead, but over 40 bodies have been recovered as of now,” a military source stated.
This latest surge in violence highlights the persistent threat posed by ISWAP and Boko Haram factions despite ongoing military offensives in the Northeast. The simultaneous nature of the raids suggests a high level of tactical coordination by the insurgents, who utilized the cover of darkness to launch their strikes. While troops were able to eventually repel the attackers in some locations, the heavy loss of life and equipment has sent shockwaves through the security architecture. The Chief of Army Staff’s visit is expected to result in a tactical review of base security and a renewed push to secure the volatile forest corridors used by the insurgents to facilitate such large-scale movements.
READ THE FULL STORY IN SAHARA REPORTERS