January 31, 2026 | SUNTV Global
In a devastating assault, insurgents linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly killed multiple Nigerian soldiers and destroyed military vehicles at an army base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Military sources told SUNTV Global that the attack occurred on Thursday when heavily armed militants launched a coordinated strike on the military formation, firing sporadically and causing casualties among soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
“There was an attack, many soldiers were killed, but I don’t have the exact figures yet,” a military source said on Saturday. The assailants burned armored tanks and military vehicles and reportedly seized large quantities of ammunition. ISWAP later claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing a video showing its fighters firing indiscriminately toward the base.
This incident follows a deadly ambush earlier this week, in which seven military personnel—including a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed—were killed while traveling from Maiduguri to Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area. Explosives and heavy gunfire were reportedly used in that ambush, leaving many soldiers injured and some still missing.
Since the death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has strengthened its presence across Lake Chad and absorbed hundreds of former Boko Haram fighters, making it one of the deadliest insurgent factions in the region.
Despite repeated claims by the Nigerian Army that the insurgency is largely under control, attacks like this highlight the persistent threat posed by ISWAP, which has caused over 100,000 deaths and displaced millions, mainly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
SUNTV Global will continue to monitor this developing story.
