An unconfirmed number of Nigerian soldiers are feared dead following an early morning attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a military outpost in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Military sources said the insurgents stormed the settlement along the Maiduguri - Damaturu road, firing sporadically before launching explosives at the army position.
The assailants reportedly advanced in multiple groups, overpowering personnel stationed at the outpost. While some soldiers were said to have been killed in the exchange, others reportedly fled into surrounding bushes as the attack intensified.
A senior source disclosed that bodies of the fallen troops were evacuated to the 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri.
The attackers were also said to have set ablaze armoured vehicles and other equipment before escaping with an unspecified cache of ammunition.
The incident comes shortly after a similar assault on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area, where troops equally recorded losses.
On January 26, 2025, insurgents ambushed a military convoy travelling from Maiduguri to Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area, killing seven soldiers, including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel, in an attack involving explosives and sustained gunfire.
Apart from the fatalities, several personnel were reportedly injured, with others still missing.
Security analysts note that ISWAP has expanded its footprint around the Lake Chad basin in recent years, especially after the death of former Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, absorbing fighters from rival factions.
Despite official claims that insurgency has been significantly degraded, recurring attacks on military formations and civilian communities indicate that the threat in the North-East persists.
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