In a significant military operation in Borno State, Nigerian troops neutralized 16 Boko Haram terrorists in the Wajiroko area, near Damboa, in a coordinated assault targeting an army base and a military outpost. The operation was a response to a surprise attack launched by a combined force of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants around 9:00 PM GMT.
The attackers, aiming to overrun the military positions, set fire to equipment and briefly seized control of the forward operation base. However, Nigerian Air Force fighter jets provided critical reinforcement, bombing the insurgents and killing many of the attackers, though the exact number of militant casualties beyond the 16 confirmed remains unclear.
The clash resulted in the loss of military equipment and significant damage to the base, highlighting the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and ISWAP in Nigeria’s northeast. Borno State remains the epicenter of the insurgency, which began in 2009 with Boko Haram’s aim to establish an Islamic caliphate under strict Sharia law.
The group, led by figures like the late Abubakar Shekau, has been responsible for over 35,000 deaths and the displacement of 2.6 million people, with attacks often targeting civilians, security forces, and infrastructure. Despite claims by the Nigerian military that the insurgents have been significantly weakened, the Wajiroko attack underscores their resilience, with militants exploiting porous borders with Chad, Niger, and Cameroon to launch cross-border raids.
Local militia member Makinta Modu, who assisted in the operation, reported that the air strikes were pivotal in repelling the attackers, though it remains uncertain whether the army fully regained control of the base. The incident has reignited calls for enhanced military strategies, including the deployment of advanced surveillance technology and increased regional cooperation through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).
The Nigerian government has also faced criticism for its response to the insurgency, with analysts pointing to challenges such as inadequate political will, corruption, and the ability of militants to operate freely across borders. The neutralization of the 16 terrorists is a tactical victory, but the broader fight against Boko Haram continues to demand sustained efforts to address root causes like poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation in the Lake Chad region.