Nigeria reels under jihadist assault: 65+ soldiers dead in northeast
At least 65 Nigerian soldiers have perished in a relentless series of jihadist raids across Nigeria’s northeast over the past fortnight, underscoring the escalating crisis in the region and the fragility of the West African state’s efforts to contain ISWAP.
Iswap launches coordinated attacks on military bases
Gunmen from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) orchestrated the attacks, overwhelming four military bases in Borno state – the insurgency's epicenter – on March 5th and 6th. The Punch newspaper reported an initial casualty count of around 40 soldiers in those assaults. While the Nigerian military disputed this figure in a statement on March 7th, the same day a mass funeral was held for the fallen, they confirmed the successful defense of bases in Delwa, Goniri, Kukawa, and Mainok on March 8th and 9th.
The scale of the violence is chilling. Armed Conflict Location & Event Data reports that 300 people, including women and children, were abducted during the attacks. ISWAP reportedly employed sophisticated weaponry, including anti-aircraft machine guns and drones, highlighting the group’s growing capabilities.
These attacks are not isolated incidents but a continuation of a pattern of coordinated assaults on military facilities that have plagued the region for nearly two decades, erupting after the extrajudicial killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf in July 2009. The conflict has since fractured into multiple factions, with ISWAP emerging as the most ruthless.
The situation has drawn international attention. 200 US troops arrived in northern Nigeria last month to train their Nigerian counterparts, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of airstrikes against terrorist elements in the region. Locally, however, the government faces mounting criticism. President Bola Tinubu and other Nigerian officials have been heavily scrutinized for seemingly prioritizing a lavish wedding involving the sons and daughters of junior defense minister Bello Matawalle in Abuja, just weeks after the ISWAP offensive intensified. Matawallehimself faced backlash for a social media post celebrating the defection of the governor of Zamfara state to the ruling party.
The Nigerian military’s response has been met with skepticism. A general was killed by jihadists in November, with ISWAP taunting authorities by releasing footage of his death. The government’s denial of his capture further eroded public trust. This latest wave of attacks underscores the profound challenges Nigeria faces in combating extremism and the deep-seated resentment that fuels the insurgency. The cost, measured in lives and displaced populations – over 2 million – is staggering.
The presidency's apparent detachment from the escalating crisis raises serious questions about priorities. The long shadow of Boko Haram and its successor groups continues to darken the northeast, a grim reality that seems increasingly difficult to dispel.