Jihadist Attacks Claim Dozens of Nigerian Soldiers, Raising Concerns Over Security
ABUJA, Nigeria – At least 65 Nigerian soldiers have been killed in a series of jihadist raids across the country’s northeast in the past two weeks, as Nigeria struggles to contain one of the world’s deadliest terror groups. The attacks, primarily carried out by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have sparked criticism of the government’s handling of the escalating violence.
The recent surge in attacks began on March 5 and 6, when ISWAP overran four military bases in Borno state, the epicenter of the insurgency. Nigerian media reported approximately 40 soldiers were killed in those initial assaults. While the military acknowledged the attacks on March 7, it disputed the reported death toll without providing alternative figures.
Further clashes occurred on March 8 and 9, with the army claiming to have “successfully defeated” coordinated attacks by ISWAP on military locations in Delwa, Goniri, Kukawa and Mainok. However, data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data indicates a broader scope of violence, including the abduction of around 300 people – women and children among them – by ISWAP militants. The group reportedly utilized advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft machine guns and drones, during the raids.
The attacks echo a pattern of coordinated assaults on military facilities in northern Nigeria, a region plagued by a nearly two-decade insurgency that intensified following the 2009 killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf. Since then, Boko Haram has fragmented into at least three factions, including the particularly ruthless ISWAP.
The escalating violence comes despite increased international support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. Last month, 200 U.S. troops arrived in the country to train Nigerian forces, following December airstrikes authorized by former U.S. President Donald Trump targeting terrorist elements in the region.
However, the government’s response has drawn criticism, with some observers questioning its priorities. Recent attention has focused on a mass wedding in Abuja involving the children of junior defense minister Bello Matawalle, occurring amidst the ongoing attacks. Matawalle also faced scrutiny for a social media post celebrating a political defection, seemingly insensitive given the security situation. He previously posted on Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, January 15, honoring fallen soldiers and vowing their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
The conflict has already displaced more than 2 million people across the Lake Chad basin, impacting neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The situation underscores the complex regional dimensions of the insurgency and the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response.
