708
By Lizzy Chirkpi
Suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a predawn assault on a Nigerian military formation at the Bama–Banki–Gwoza junction in Kajeri area of Borno State on Saturday, leaving what local sources described as “heavy casualties,” including the reported death of Major U.I. Mairiga.
Residents told our correspondent that the attack began in the early hours of the morning, with sustained gunfire and explosions heard across nearby communities.
“We started hearing gunshots around 5 a.m. It was intense and lasted for a long time,” a resident of Kajeri, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said. “People were afraid to step out. The sound of heavy weapons was clear.”
Another local source said the insurgents reportedly approached the military position in large numbers, attempting to overrun the camp at the strategic junction which links Bama, Banki and Gwoza are three key locations in southern Borno.
“The soldiers resisted, but from what we heard, there were casualties on both sides. We were told a senior officer, Major Mairiga, was killed during the exchange,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military had yet to issue an official statement confirming the attack or the reported casualty figures. However, a security source within the theatre of operations, who declined to be quoted because he was not authorized to speak to the media, acknowledged that there was “an engagement” in the area.
“There was contact with terrorists in the early hours. Reinforcements were deployed, and the situation has been brought under control,” the source said, without providing further details.
The Bama–Banki–Gwoza axis remains one of the most volatile corridors in Borno, frequently targeted by insurgents due to its strategic importance and proximity to border communities. ISWAP, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram aligned with the Islamic State, has intensified attacks on military formations in recent months, often employing coordinated assaults aimed at seizing weapons and military hardware.
Military authorities are expected to provide further clarification as operations continue in the area.
Efforts to reach the Director of Army Public Relations for confirmation were ongoing at press time.