ISWAP attacks army base in Borno, kills soldier, burns police post

ISWAP attacks army base in Borno, kills soldier, burns police post

Suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have launched a fresh assault on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Logomani, Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a Nigerian soldier and setting several public facilities ablaze in one of the latest attacks highlighting the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East.

The late-night attack, which occurred on Tuesday, targeted troops of Operation HADIN KAI stationed in the border community, with residents reporting that the insurgents also razed a police outpost, a Primary Healthcare Centre, and two classrooms after clashing with security forces.

Confirming the incident, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Goni, said the terrorists launched a coordinated attack on the military base but were eventually repelled after troops mounted a fierce counteroffensive.

According to the military, the insurgents briefly breached part of the Forward Operating Base’s defensive perimeter during the intense exchange of gunfire before soldiers regrouped, inflicted casualties on the attackers and forced them to retreat.

Despite successfully defending the base, the military disclosed that one soldier was killed in action.

“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme sacrifice, while two gun trucks and some combat enablers sustained damage during the engagement,” the statement said.

The military added that reinforcements had since been deployed to the affected base, while exploitation operations and additional defensive measures were ongoing to prevent another attack.

The latest assault comes as Operation HADIN KAI continues sustained offensives against ISWAP and Boko Haram fighters across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. In recent weeks, the military has reported the rescue of kidnapped civilians, the surrender of insurgents, the arrest of suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and the recovery of weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during clearance operations.

However, residents of Logomani said the insurgents extended their attack beyond the military base by targeting civilian infrastructure after the gun battle.

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A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said many villagers fled their homes as the heavily armed attackers entered the community and torched a police outpost, the local Primary Healthcare Centre, and two classrooms in a nearby school.

“We all left the community during the attack. The terrorists were heavily armed. After the fighting with the soldiers, they entered the school and burnt down two classrooms. They also attacked a police outpost and a hospital, which they burnt down,” the resident said.

While the military did not confirm claims that troops were overwhelmed, it acknowledged that the attackers temporarily breached part of the Forward Operating Base’s defensive perimeter before they were pushed back.

A local security source also disclosed that personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) immediately launched a coordinated pursuit of the fleeing insurgents in a bid to prevent further attacks on surrounding communities.

On Wednesday, the Chairman of Ngala Local Government Area, Mala Ngala, visited the affected community to assess the level of destruction.

During the inspection, the council chairman visited the burnt police outpost, healthcare centre and damaged classrooms, assuring residents that the findings would be submitted to the Borno State Government to facilitate urgent intervention and reconstruction of the destroyed public facilities.

He also appealed to residents to remain calm, stay vigilant and continue sharing credible intelligence with security agencies to support ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

The latest attack has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of frontline communities around the Lake Chad Basin, where insurgent groups continue to exploit difficult terrain and cross-border routes to launch surprise attacks despite years of sustained military operations.

Security analysts believe that while Nigerian troops have recorded significant gains against insurgent groups in recent months, including eliminating terrorist commanders, recovering sophisticated weapons and disrupting logistics networks, the attack in Logomani demonstrates that ISWAP still retains the capability to carry out coordinated assaults on both military formations and civilian infrastructure.

The incident is expected to intensify calls for stronger intelligence gathering, increased deployment of surveillance technology, enhanced border security and greater protection for vulnerable communities as Nigeria continues its long-running campaign against terrorism in the North-East.

ISWAP attacks army base in Borno, kills soldier, burns police post