Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a significant blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Nigerian military forces have successfully repelled a coordinated and potentially devastating attack on a forward operating base in Borno State’s conflict-scarred northeast, underscoring both the resilience of government forces and the persistent volatility of the region.
In the predawn hours of Friday and into early Saturday, militants affiliated with ISWAP launched a well-planned assault on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari in the Guzamala Local Government Area. The insurgents employed at least two Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) in an attempt to breach the base’s perimeter, a tactic increasingly used in asymmetric warfare to overwhelm defensive positions.
Nigerian troops, operating under the joint Operation Hadin Kai mandate and supported by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), demonstrated high operational readiness by detecting and neutralising both VBIEDs before they could inflict damage on the base. Counter-explosive measures and defensive fire systems destroyed the IEDs, which also caused peripheral damage to the access road but did not compromise the base’s structural integrity or defensive capability.
Following the thwarted assault, troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the surrounding area. This follow-up operation uncovered numerous insurgent casualties and yielded a considerable cache of weapons, ammunition, communication gear, motorcycles and sustainment materials abandoned by the fleeing militants. The recovery of these items represents a tangible degradation of ISWAP’s operational capacity in the area and denies the group vital resources that could be used in further attacks.
Military officials confirmed that several insurgents were killed outright during the engagement, with others seriously wounded. Survivors were seen evacuating their dead and wounded amid chaotic retreats, according to military sources familiar with the aftermath of the fighting. There were no reported casualties among Nigerian forces during this latest engagement, a testament to the effectiveness of their defensive posture and tactical preparedness.
The operation at Mairari reflects a broader pattern of sustained pressure by Nigerian security forces against Islamist militants in Borno State. Over the past year, the military and allied security agencies have reported a series of defensive victories against coordinated assaults by ISWAP and its allied Boko Haram factions across multiple locations, including other forward operating bases and strategic villages within the Lake Chad basin region.
These clashes are part of a long-running insurgency that has plagued northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, displacing millions, destabilising entire communities, and drawing in regional and international security cooperation. Although Boko Haram’s conventional organisational structure has fractured, ISWAP has remained a lethal and adaptive threat, frequently shifting tactics to include suicide bombings, drones, and small-unit raids on isolated military outposts.
Just months earlier, Nigerian troops mounted decisive resistance against another large-scale attack on a military base, reportedly neutralising scores of insurgents and recovering weapons and equipment in fierce combat. In some encounters, ground forces coordinated with air assets to deliver simultaneous strikes, illustrating evolving joint operational capabilities in the counter-insurgency effort. The integration of air and ground tactics has been credited with inflicting significant losses on militant groups while reducing casualties among government forces.
The strategic importance of such victories cannot be overstated. Borno State, which shares borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon, is the epicentre of jihadist violence in Nigeria and a key logistical theatre for militants moving across the Lake Chad region. Successes in repelling attacks reinforce the Nigerian military’s control over critical territory and help protect vulnerable civilian populations living near conflict zones.
However, these tactical gains occur against a background of enduring challenges. Local communities continue to face threats from sporadic militant activity, including kidnappings, ambushes and improvised explosive devices that disrupt daily life and hinder economic recovery. Civilian Joint Task Force units and local vigilante groups often operate alongside formal security forces, highlighting both the complexity of the conflict and the essential role of community engagement in stabilisation efforts.
Analysts note that while military pressure has pushed ISWAP into fewer, more desperate engagements, the group remains capable of inflicting damage and exploiting any lapses in security. Intelligence officials stress that sustained surveillance, improved defensive infrastructure at remote bases, and enhanced regional cooperation are critical to maintaining momentum against insurgent cells that adapt quickly to battlefield conditions.
The recent success at Mairari also serves as a morale booster for Nigerian troops and allied forces operating under Operation Hadin Kai, which was established to coordinate multiple security agencies in a comprehensive campaign against Islamist insurgents. The operation has focused on integrating intelligence, boosting rapid reaction capabilities, and launching targeted offensives against high-value militant leaders.
Despite these efforts, occasional losses continue to underline the war’s human cost. In past operations, troops have suffered casualties, and anti-jihadist militia supporting the military have been killed by landmines and ambushes. These incidents remind stakeholders of the protracted nature of the conflict and the persistent risks faced by soldiers and civilians alike.
The federal government in Abuja has reiterated its commitment to eradicating insurgency from the northeastern region, coupling military operations with initiatives aimed at restoring essential services, facilitating the return of displaced populations and stimulating local economies. Nonetheless, sustainable peace will likely require long-term political solutions, investment in education and employment, and concerted efforts to address the root causes of extremism, which include poverty, marginalisation and governance deficits.
The latest thwarted attack, therefore, is both a tactical victory and a reminder of the road ahead. It underscores the Nigerian military’s improved defensive techniques and readiness, while also highlighting the enduring threat posed by ISWAP and allied militant groups. For the local communities living in Borno’s volatile landscape, each repelled assault brings a measure of security—but also a stark reminder of the resilience of insurgent networks and the ongoing imperative for vigilance, cooperation and strategic foresight.
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