Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a fierce and protracted night assault, fighters affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly attacked a Nigerian Army military camp in Pulka, Borno State, late last night. Local sources described the nearly 90‑minute engagement, during which heavy automatic weapons fire echoed across the town and parts of the camp were engulfed in flames from multiple explosions and burning structures. Residents in surrounding quarters were awakened by the gunfire and have since described scenes of intense conflict and chaos.
Pulka, situated in Gwoza Local Government Area near the Nigeria–Cameroon border, has been a persistent flashpoint in the wider conflict with jihadist groups in northeastern Nigeria. While no official casualty figures have been released at the time of reporting, credible community accounts and preliminary FIRMS satellite monitoring data indicate that sections of the military position were set ablaze by the insurgents, suggesting significant damage to infrastructure and possible military equipment losses. Reports also suggest there are unconfirmed but credible claims of multiple soldier casualties, though the exact numbers remain impossible to verify independently at this moment.
The assault, according to residents who declined to be named for security reasons, began shortly after midnight with insurgent fighters storming the perimeter of the camp in coordinated waves. The attackers employed small arms and possibly explosive devices to breach defensive positions, sustaining pressure on troops through sustained gun battles that lasted well into the early hours. As the clashes unfolded, bursts of tracer rounds and explosions lit up the night sky, prompting many non‑combatants in the vicinity to flee for safety or seek shelter in nearby farm plots and bushland.
Local humanitarian volunteers and emergency responders said they were overwhelmed by the scale of the confrontation. “We heard gunshots in rapid succession for a very long period,” one resident in Pulka told this report. “When we dared to look, the camp was on fire, and smoke was rising high. People are scared; many villagers have moved deeper into the bush since then.”
No formal statement has yet been issued by the Nigerian Army or the Defence Headquarters in Abuja concerning the assault, and spokespeople for the military were not immediately reachable for confirmation or comment. Past responses to similar attacks in the region have emphasised the fog of war and the need for verified facts before issuing public briefings. The absence of official information at this stage is unlikely to calm anxieties among families of service members and local civilians alike, who are already experiencing heightened insecurity.
ISWAP, a long‑standing jihadist faction that split from Boko Haram in 2015, remains one of the most active and lethal armed groups in the Lake Chad Basin. The organisation retains the capability to strike deep into northeastern Nigeria, exploiting the rugged terrain and the logistical challenges faced by security forces. Even as the military conducts counter‑insurgency operations, including ground offensives and air support missions under Operation Hadin Kai and related campaigns, jihadist groups continue to adapt and conduct high‑profile raids on both civilian and military targets. Nigeria’s defence establishment has publicly acknowledged the complexity of the insurgency, citing the fluidity of militant tactics, including asymmetrical night assaults and the use of motorcycles and light vehicles to enhance mobility and surprise.
The region around Pulka has seen repeated violence in recent years, underscoring the enduring challenge of stabilising northeastern Nigeria. A series of attacks earlier in the conflict saw jihadist fighters target villages, crossroads and forward military positions across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. Some previous assaults on military facilities have resulted in heavy engagements where troops have been forced to regroup, prompting reinforcements from larger forward operating bases. Efforts by security forces to establish fortified positions in remote areas like Pulka have been met with persistent insurgent pressure, reflecting the resilience of ISWAP and allied factions despite ongoing counter‑terrorism operations.
The broader implications of last night’s attack extend beyond immediate military losses. Pulka functions as a vital node in the network of army outposts intended to secure the northeast and protect communities vulnerable to extremist incursions. A successful strike on such a position, if confirmed, could embolden insurgent cells and signal lingering capability to challenge Nigerian forces outside of main urban centres and fortified garrisons.
Humanitarian concerns are already emerging. Civilians displaced by recurrent violence in Borno State face compounded risks whenever major clashes occur near population centres. With the assault reported in a town that hosts internally displaced persons (IDPs) and requires regular access for humanitarian aid delivery, there is worry that relief operations may be interrupted, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable residents who have already endured displacement, loss of livelihoods, and chronic insecurity.
Regional security analysts say that the northeast’s instability continues to demand a sustained and comprehensive strategy combining military pressure with community engagement, intelligence sharing and socioeconomic initiatives that undermine the insurgents’ appeal. This view has been echoed by international partners engaged in supporting Nigeria’s counter‑insurgency efforts, who have highlighted the need to adapt to evolving militant tactics and address root causes of the conflict, including governance deficits, economic marginalisation and cross‑border criminal networks.
As of this morning, Pulka remains tense, with sporadic gunfire still audible from distant parts of the Borno bush. Locals are urging security forces to bolster patrols and secure vital supply routes that have been repeatedly disrupted by insurgent actions. Families of military personnel are also seeking urgent clarification on the fate of those deployed at the targeted camp, as social media postings reflect a blend of anxiety and anger over the perceived gaps in protection.
The night’s events in Pulka are likely to prompt further official response in the coming hours and days as military leadership assesses the situation on the ground, determines casualties, and mounts appropriate countermeasures. For now, communities in northeast Nigeria are bracing for possible spill‑over effects, even as the nation’s security apparatus confronts yet another stark reminder of the protracted insurgency’s reach and resilience.
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