Nigerian Army Chief visits Borno troops after deadly ISWAP attack
The Nigerian Army Chief of Staff visited troops in Borno state following an attack by Islamic State-aligned militants who killed 15 soldiers and burnt a military base. The insurgency in northeast Nigeria has intensified, with ISWAP overrunning a base in Mairari village, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-10-13
The Nigerian Army Chief of Staff visited troops stationed in Borno state on Saturday, following a deadly attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants that killed 15 soldiers and five anti-jihadist militia members.
The attack occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in Mairari village, located in the Lake Chad area of northeastern Nigeria. ISWAP fighters overran a military base, looted weapons, and burnt the base to the ground, forcing troops to withdraw towards the garrison town of Monguno.
Local residents described a prolonged battle during the attack, with militants remaining at the base until daybreak. The insurgents reportedly launched the assault from their base in Gudumbali, Guzamala district.
Borno state remains the epicentre of a jihadist insurgency that began in 2009 with Boko Haram and later ISWAP, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced around two million people. Despite a reduction in violence a decade ago, attacks have surged over the past two years, with 2026 marking the highest level of violence in nearly three decades.
Last week, a similar ISWAP attack on a military outpost in Kukawa resulted in around two dozen deaths before Nigerian forces repelled the militants with fighter jet support.