Jihadist Attack Kills at Least 11 Soldiers in Nigeria’s Yobe State: Military Sources

Report By Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

At least 11 Nigerian soldiers were killed when fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed a military base in Buni Gari, Yobe state, late Friday night, according to military sources.

Attack Details:

• ISWAP militants arrived in multiple trucks armed with heavy weapons and RPGs.
• They launched a fierce gun battle, killing 11 soldiers on-site.
• The base was set ablaze after the assault, destroying vehicles and buildings.
• Weapons were seized by the attackers before they retreated.

Military officers reported that several soldiers are still missing. The final death toll could increase once a full assessment is completed. Officers spoke anonymously due to restrictions on media communications.

Videos reviewed by AFP show smoldering vehicles and the decapitated body of a soldier at the site. The charred remains of armored trucks and burning buildings underscore the intensity of the raid.

Background:

• Buni Gari has faced multiple attacks amid a 16-year insurgency that has killed over 40,000 people and displaced around 2 million in Nigeria’s northeast.
• This marks the eighth attack on a military base in the region in the past two months.

Since 2019, the Nigerian army has shifted to “super camps”—larger garrisons intended to resist attacks more effectively. Critics argue this move has weakened security in rural zones, allowing militants to operate freely and target civilians and travelers.

Ongoing Violence:

• On Monday, 26 civilians died in a landmine explosion near Rann, also claimed by ISWAP.
• Over 100 civilians were killed in militant attacks across April.
• Both ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to target both military and civilian populations.

President Bola Tinubu, during a visit to Katsina on Friday, vowed to enhance military capabilities. He said terrorism, insurgency, and banditry have gone on too long and must be defeated.