Dawn of Death in Borno l: Soldiers Caught off Guard as I SWAP Strike Again
According to reports reaching BuzzVaultNG, a yet-to-be-confirmed number of Nigerian soldiers have been killed after militants linked to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a deadly early-morning assault on a military base in Borno State.
The attack reportedly happened at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday at a Forward Operating Base in Banki Junction along the Bama Gwoza Road a time when most soldiers would have least expected danger to come crashing in.
Sources say the gunmen moved in multiple groups, surrounding the base and opening fire sporadically but with devastating impact. The confusion and intensity of the attack made it difficult to even determine how many attackers were involved. In the chaos, several soldiers were reportedly killed, while others fled into nearby bushes in a desperate bid to survive.
Among those feared dead is an Army Major identified as U.I. Mairiga. His death, like many others, adds another painful name to Nigeria’s growing list of fallen heroes. The bodies of the victims, according to insiders, are being moved to the 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri, though official casualty figures are yet to be released.
What makes this attack even more troubling is that it is not an isolated incident it is part of a disturbing pattern. Just weeks earlier, insurgents struck another military base in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area, burning armoured vehicles and escaping with weapons. On February 6, 2025, another attack along the Maiduguri–Damaturu Road left multiple soldiers dead, reinforcing fears that these fighters are becoming more daring and coordinated.
Even more heartbreaking was the ambush in late January, where seven military personnel, including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel, lost their lives. Reports by SaharaReporters revealed that the officer, identified as Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed, was leading troops from Maiduguri to Damasak when they were hit with explosives and heavy gunfire. Some soldiers never made it back, while others were left wounded or missing their fate still unknown.
Since the fall of Boko Haram’s notorious leader Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been tightening its grip around the Lake Chad region, absorbing fighters and expanding its reach. What was once a fragmented insurgency is now evolving into a more structured and dangerous force, capable of launching coordinated attacks like the one seen in Banki.
For the soldiers on the front lines, this is more than just another battle it is a daily gamble between life and death. And for the families waiting back home, every ring of the phone carries fear, every silence feels heavy.
As Borno bleeds once again, one truth remains impossible to ignore this war is far from over, and the cost keeps rising.
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