Nigeria’s Deadliest Week: Over 100 Soldiers Killed in Boko Haram and ISWAP Attacks Across Borno State

Over 100 Soldiers Slain in Coordinated Insurgent Attacks in Borno

In one of the deadliest weeks for the Nigerian military since the 2018 Metele massacre, Boko Haram and its Islamic State-affiliated splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), launched a series of coordinated attacks across Borno State between March 3 and 9, 2026, killing more than 100 soldiers. At least five named commissioned officers were among the dead, with dozens more unaccounted for, as insurgents targeted military bases, ambushed patrols, and raided communities in the northeastern region.

Chronology of the Deadly Assaults

The attacks unfolded over seven days, beginning on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, where Boko Haram insurgents stormed a military base before assaulting an internally displaced persons camp. More than 100 residents were abducted, thousands of civilians—mostly women and children—fled to Pulka community, and the Chief Imam of Ngoshe along with several community elders were killed.

The violence escalated on Thursday night into Friday dawn, March 5-6, with ISWAP launching simultaneous assaults on four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte town between 10 pm and 3 am. Gunmen fired sporadically at the facilities, inflicting numerous casualties, burning armoured tanks and military vehicles, and seizing unquantified ammunition. Lieutenant Colonel SI Iliyasu, Commanding Officer of 222 Battalion, was killed in Konduga alongside some of his men.

Earlier that Thursday morning, March 5, an attack at the Forward Base operations in Banki Junction around 4:00 am resulted in the death of an Army Major and other soldiers, whose bodies were transferred to 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri.

On Friday morning, March 6, soldiers from the 21 Special Armour Brigade were ambushed in Sambisa Forest at approximately 6:45 am during clearance operations, with video evidence later captured by field reporters showing bodies.

The assaults continued on Sunday, March 8, in Kukawa Local Government Area, where gunmen attacked an Army base in Kukawa town, about 150 kilometres from Maiduguri, burning military vehicles. The following day, Monday, March 9, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq, Commanding Officer at the Kukawa base in the Lake Chad region, was confirmed dead—less than 72 hours after Lieutenant Colonel Iliyasu’s killing.

Confirmed Officer Casualties and Broader Losses

Among the confirmed dead were two Lieutenant Colonels—SI Iliyasu of 222 Battalion in Konduga on March 6, and Umar Farouq in Kukawa on March 9—along with two Majors, Segun Amusan and Ibrahim Mairiga (the latter a Forward Operating Base Commander in Mayanti), and Lieutenant Ejeh. A military source revealed: “Over 100 of our men were killed last week alone. Seems we have lost the war while the army authorities keep deceiving the public. Over 50 soldiers have been buried so far, not to talk of those they are still awaiting approval from their relatives. Over 40 soldiers remain unaccounted for after the attack in Ngoshe town.”

Military Response and Official Statements

The Nigerian Army initially denied or minimised the casualty figures. On March 7, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, attributed the attacks to Boko Haram elements dislodged from Sambisa Forest who regrouped for night assaults on communities around Konduga, Ngoshe, Mainok, and Jakana, without specifying casualty numbers.

Remains of some personnel were buried at Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri, where Theatre Commander Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar called the event a “painful reminder” of the armed forces’ sacrifices. Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu visited Maiduguri but issued no public statement on the losses. The Army later targeted SaharaReporters’ field coverage, even as independent military sources upheld the casualty reports.

Perpetrators: Boko Haram and ISWAP Tactics

The attacks were primarily by ISWAP, operating alongside Boko Haram (Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, or JAS). Boko Haram, founded in Maiduguri in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, began its insurgency in 2009. It pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2015 under Abubakar Shekau, leading to the ISWAP split in 2016. Shekau died in May 2021 after ISWAP overran his Sambisa base, with JAS reconstituting under Bakura Doro.

The factions differ tactically: Boko Haram targets civilians and soft infrastructure in southern Borno and Mandara Mountains using small arms and suicide vests, maintaining indiscriminate violence. ISWAP focuses on military bases and government assets in the Lake Chad basin and Maiduguri axis, employing RPGs, anti-aircraft guns, and drones while taxing civilians selectively.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume highlighted the equipment disparity, noting security forces rely on AK-47 rifles and lack Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, while insurgents use advanced weaponry.

Operation Hadin Kai’s Structural Failures

Operation Hadin Kai, involving the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, and Civilian Joint Task Force, has seen tactical wins like strikes on ISWAP commanders. However, the surge exposed failures: no air support during prolonged base occupations, as attack helicopters and Tucano aircraft were redeployed northwest; undetected coordination in the four simultaneous attacks indicating intelligence gaps; vulnerable forward bases prone to equipment burning and looting since 2018; and a culture of information suppression hindering accountability.

Escalation Context and Implications

This surge follows 2025 escalations, with Boko Haram seizing Kirawa border town in October, burning a palace, barracks, and homes, displacing over 5,000. The 15-year conflict has killed nearly 40,000 and displaced two million in the North-East. ISWAP demonstrated reconstituted command with synchronized assaults, officer-targeting to disrupt leadership, and exploitation of air cover gaps.

Borno Governor Babagana Zulum urged a coordinated offensive across Lake Chad to dismantle hideouts, hosting Air Chief Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. Senator Ndume called on President Bola Tinubu for more fighter jets and hardware. As of March 10, 2026, no presidential statement addressed the casualties.

Regional and International Dimensions

The Multinational Joint Task Force with Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin faces challenges from Sahel instability, including Niger’s 2023 coup. An International Criminal Court preliminary examination since 2020 found grounds for war crimes by both insurgents and forces, unadvanced as of March 2026.

Source: https://www.ujasusi.com/p/nigeria-100-soldiers-killed-boko-haram-iswap-march-2026