ISWAP claims responsibility for deadly attacks in Nigeria

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for some deadly attacks on two Nigerian military bases in Borno State.

ISWAP posted seven messages on their news agency, Amaq to make these claims with a video and two photo albums on the operation backing it.

One of the assaults occurred on March 24, 2025, when suspected ISWAP and Boko Haram militants launched coordinated attacks on the Wajiroko and Wulgo army bases. The insurgents set military equipment on fire and overran a forward operation base in Wajiroko. At least four soldiers were killed, and several others, including the brigade commander, were injured. Air force jets later reinforced the area, reportedly killing many attackers, though control of the base remains uncertain.

The group also included an attack on a Christian village in Adamawa state, Banga village where two Christians lost their lives along with 30 houses and a church were set ablaze on April 15.

A second attack on the same village on April 16 targeted Nigerian police patrol in the village wounded several officers and damaging of a vehicle.

ISWAP has also claimed responsibility for a massacre in Mafa town, Yobe State, on September 1, 2024. The group alleged that the village provided information to the Nigerian military, leading to the deaths of its members. In a letter released by the attackers, ISWAP stated that the village was targeted for allegedly aiding the military, which resulted in the deaths of their members.

The letter reads, “You have harmed our brothers in the past days in the town of (Bangaro) and its environs, and you cooperated and sympathized with the apostates in killing our brothers… we thought that by doing so we had warned you with the language of war, hoping that you would be deterred.”

The Nigerian government has however, condemned these attacks and pledged to intensify efforts to combat insurgent groups by increasing the defense budget to over 40% for this year.