{"id":125956,"date":"2026-03-02T06:53:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T05:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=125956"},"modified":"2026-03-02T06:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T05:53:48","slug":"heavy-casualties-reported-as-iswap-attacks-army-formation-in-borno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/heavy-casualties-reported-as-iswap-attacks-army-formation-in-borno\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavy Casualties Reported as ISWAP Attacks Army Formation in Borno\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/div>\n
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Suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a predawn assault on a Nigerian military formation at the Bama\u2013Banki\u2013Gwoza junction in Kajeri area of Borno State on Saturday, leaving what local sources described as \u201cheavy casualties,\u201d including the reported death of Major U.I. Mairiga.<\/div>\n
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Residents told our correspondent that the attack began in the early hours of the morning, with sustained gunfire and explosions heard across nearby communities.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe started hearing gunshots around 5 a.m. It was intense and lasted for a long time,\u201d a resident of Kajeri, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said. \u201cPeople were afraid to step out. The sound of heavy weapons was clear.\u201d<\/div>\n
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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.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe 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,\u201d the source added.<\/div>\n
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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 \u201can engagement\u201d in the area.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThere was contact with terrorists in the early hours. Reinforcements were deployed, and the situation has been brought under control,\u201d the source said, without providing further details.<\/div>\n
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The Bama\u2013Banki\u2013Gwoza 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.<\/div>\n
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Military authorities are expected to provide further clarification as operations continue in the area.<\/div>\n
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Efforts to reach the Director of Army Public Relations for confirmation were ongoing at press time.<\/div>\n
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