Jihadists linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a deadly attack on a Nigerian army base in Ngamdu village, Borno State, early Friday, killing at least seven soldiers, military sources confirmed. The assault marks one of the most sophisticated in recent months, involving rocket-propelled grenades and explosive-laden drones.
According to military officers who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, the fighters struck the base located about 100 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, in a “well-coordinated operation.” Four military vehicles were destroyed during the raid, and several soldiers were injured.
A confidential military memo seen by AFP reported six soldiers killed and six wounded, though the Nigerian army officially stated that four troops had died. The army said its forces, supported by reinforcements from a nearby base, repelled the attackers.
“The situation is under control, and the affected area has been secured,” the army noted, downplaying the toll as it has often done in previous attacks to maintain morale.
The assault forced a temporary closure of the strategic Maiduguri-Damaturu highway after militants planted explosives along the 120-kilometre route. Troops later moved in to clear the area for safe passage.
ISWAP, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2016, has increasingly used drones and advanced explosives in its fight to establish a caliphate in northeastern Nigeria. The insurgency, now in its 16th year, has displaced more than two million people and spread into neighbouring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
Despite efforts to contain the militants through the creation of fortified “super camps,” critics argue that the strategy has allowed jihadists greater freedom in rural zones, endangering civilians and travellers.
The attack in Ngamdu highlights the growing sophistication of ISWAP’s tactics and the persistent challenge facing Nigeria’s military in restoring lasting peace to the region.
