Jihadists kill 15 soldiers and five militia members in attack on Borno base

Mixed · 2Suspected Islamic State-aligned fighters killed 15 troops and five anti-jihadist militia members when they attacked and burnt down a military base in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, defence and local sources told AFP on Wednesday 14 October. 1 2 Right · 1The sources said a large group of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters overran the base in Mairari village in the Lake Chad area overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, looted weapons and then burnt the base down. 2 Centre · 1An unnamed Nigerian military officer said the militants "razed the base to the ground", forcing troops to withdraw towards the garrison town of Monguno, about 18 kilometres away. The officer spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak publicly. 1

Right · 1Several soldiers were missing, and the military source said colleagues feared they may have been captured by the jihadists. 2 Mixed · 2Mairari resident Grema Butari said the fighters attacked around 2200 GMT, dislodged the troops after a "prolonged battle" and stayed until daybreak, taking everything of value and burning the rest along with several vehicles. He gave the same death toll. Another resident, Ahmad Sherif, confirmed the base's "total destruction" and said the attackers were believed to have come from their base in Gudumbali, in neighbouring Guzamala district. 1 2 Mixed · 2Borno is the epicentre of a more than 17-year insurgency by Boko Haram and later its splinter ISWAP. The violence began in 2009, had eased from its peak a decade ago, but has risen over the past two years; the UN says the conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced about two million people. 1 2

Mixed · 2The reports say Nigeria is in its most violent period in nearly three decades, with the second quarter of 2026 the highest level of violence recorded by ACLED since 1997. Last week, around two dozen militants and soldiers were killed when ISWAP fighters attacked a military outpost in neighbouring Kukawa and were driven back with help from fighter jets. 1 2