Nine Nigerian Soldiers Killed in ISWAP Ambush in Borno State
At least nine Nigerian soldiers have been confirmed dead and more than a dozen are missing following a devastating ambush by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) jihadists in northeast Borno State. Military and militia sources disclosed this information to AFP on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, highlighting a significant security setback in the region.
Details of the Deadly Attack Near Damask
The ambush occurred on Friday when ISWAP fighters targeted a column of over thirty troops on a foot patrol outside the town of Damask, close to the border with Niger. The attackers employed explosives and firearms in a coordinated assault that caught the soldiers off guard.
A military officer, who requested anonymity, stated: "We lost nine soldiers in an ambush by ISWAP terrorists and many others are still missing." The soldiers were approximately twenty-five kilometres from their base when the jihadists unleashed sustained gunfire, causing them to disperse in various directions.
Explosive Device and High Casualties
The officer further explained that the terrorists had planted an explosive device on the road in advance, which they detonated during the attack. This tactic significantly increased the casualties and created confusion among the troops, exacerbating the chaos of the ambush.
Only eight soldiers managed to return to their base safely, while the remainder, including their commander who holds the rank of a major, are still unaccounted for. In a chilling development, the officer revealed that calls to the commander's mobile phone have been answered by an individual claiming to be an ISWAP terrorist, suggesting the commander may have been captured.
Confirmation from Militia Sources
Ya-Mulam Kadai, a spokesman for a government-funded anti-jihadist militia assisting the military in Damask, corroborated the casualty toll. He confirmed that the bodies of the nine slain soldiers were recovered by a military search team deployed to the scene of the attack.
The Nigerian military has not yet responded to AFP's request for comment on this incident, leaving many questions unanswered about the ongoing search for the missing personnel and the broader implications for security in Borno State.
