Fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have launched coordinated and simultaneous attacks targeting multiple communities across three local government areas of Borno State and parts of neighbouring Yobe State within 24 hours.
According to findings, the terrorists attacked four communities; Mafa, Dikwa, Marte, and Ajiri, between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Local sources said the insurgents first arrived in Mafa late Wednesday, riding on more than 100 motorcycles and four gun trucks, heavily armed with sophisticated weapons.
According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists initially attacked commuters who had parked near a military checkpoint for the night and looted their vehicles.
One of the motorists said: “The attack happened around 11:40 p.m. while travelers were waiting for the gate to open in the morning. They didn’t kill anyone among the commuters, but they carted away foodstuffs and other goods being transported to Gamboru, and burned an undisclosed number of vehicles.”
A security source who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter said the terrorists burned several items belonging to travelers before proceeding to attack a nearby military base. Details of that assault were still unclear at the time of filing this report.
Similarly, attacks were also reported in Marte, Dikwa, and Ajiri, with residents confirming heavy gunfire and movement of insurgents through their communities.
Reacting to the incidents, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, said in an electronic message obtained by BusinessDay that troops successfully repelled multiple terrorist attacks in Borno State on Thursday.
He stated: “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), with renewed vigour, successfully defeated terrorist attacks on multiple locations across the Joint Operations Area in the early hours of today, 23 October 2025.”
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He added: “Between midnight and 0400 hours, the terrorists launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko, located in Sector 1 (Borno State) and Sector 2 (Yobe State) respectively. In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive, and bloody blow.”
According to him, “The coordinated offensive response was supported by air platforms of the Air Component Command of OPHK. The precision strikes, coupled with enhanced battlefield awareness provided by Theatre Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, gave troops additional leverage and impetus to respond with overwhelming and lethal force.”
Sani revealed that “the combined ground and air efforts resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all locations.
Troops also recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, and hand grenades, along with thousands of assorted belted and loose rounds of different calibres. Additionally, over 70 wounded insurgents are still being pursued by ground troops supported by the Air Component in close coordination.”
He further disclosed that intelligence indicated the terrorists who attacked Dikwa and Gajibo maneuvered from the Cameroon axis, while those who struck Katarko came from the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist enclave.
“Some of the gallant troops were wounded in action but are in stable condition. Some vehicles and buildings were also gutted by fire from the terrorists’ armed drones and RPG fire during the battle, especially in Mafa and Dikwa, where part of the defences were momentarily breached,” Sani concluded.
He added that the Military High Command has commended the gallantry, doggedness, and renewed zeal of the troops, saying their steadfast performance reaffirms the military’s unwavering resolve and capacity to defend the nation’s territorial integrity, especially with the deployment of more personnel and critical combat enablers into the theatre.