TIMELINE: 13 att∆cks, 7 foiled — mapping Nigeria’s military base ∆ssaults in 2026
TIMELINE: 13 attacks, 7 foiled — mapping Nigeria’s military base assaults in 2026
In January 2025, President Bola Tinubu asked the armed forces to take the war against insurgency to the camps of bandits and terrorists, especially in the north-west geopolitical zone.
The president’s directive followed the January 4 attack on a military base at Sabon Gari in Damboa LGA of Borno state that claimed the lives of six soldiers.
Tinubu also directed a probe of the attack. The president said the investigation will “uncover the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident and ensure that it serves as a valuable lesson to prevent similar occurrences”.
That was the first attack on a military base in 2025. At least six other such attacks that resulted in the deaths of several soldiers were recorded before the year panned out.
And instead of the war going to the insurgents’ camps, in 2026, insurgents appear to have flipped the battlefield, bringing the war directly to military formations through rapid, coordinated assaults tagged “burning of the camps” or “camp Holocaust” — a strategic campaign aimed at weakening the operational capacity of security forces by targeting military positions.
Since January, at least 13 bases across Nigeria, particularly in Borno, have come under attack, pointing to a shift in both strategy and capability.
Below is a timeline:
JANUARY 16 — BORNO AND ADAMAWA
On January 16, the Nigerian Army said troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled coordinated attacks by terrorists on military locations in Adamawa and Borno states.
S.A. Atokolo, the operation’s acting media information officer, said terrorists first attempted to overrun a patrol base in Sabon Gari, Madagali LGA of Adamawa state, but were forced to retreat after troops engaged them.
Atokolo also said a separate multi-directional attack on the forward operating base Azir in Borno was repelled after a prolonged firefight, with support from air components.
JANUARY 20 — DAMASAK, BORNO
A patrol team of about 30 soldiers from the Damasak base came under attack by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
A major-general, who was leading the patrol, was killed alongside other soldiers.
The incident highlighted the risks beyond base perimeters, with attackers targeting mobile units and fixed positions.
JANUARY 29 — SABON GARI, BORNO
Insurgents launched a pre-dawn attack on the Sabon Gari military base.
The attackers, reportedly supported by drones, destroyed several military vehicles during the assault.
The army confirmed casualties, including soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, but did not provide figures.
A report by the BBC says terrorist groups in West Africa, including ISWAP and Boko Haram, are increasingly using drones in their attacks, raising concerns that they may now be able to wage a “war from the skies”.
MARCH 3 — NGOSHE, GWOZA LGA, BORNO
The Nigerian Air Force carried out air strikes after an attempted assault on military positions in Ngose.
Over 50 suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters were killed, according to military sources.
MARCH 9 — KUKAWA, BORNO
A commanding officer of the Nigerian Army was killed when suspected ISWAP fighters attacked a military base in Kukawa.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the troops engaged the insurgents in a prolonged firefight, with casualties recorded on both sides.
MARCH 10 — DORON BAGA, KUKAWA LGA, BORNO
Barely 24 hours after the Kukawa attack, insurgents struck again within the LGA, this time targeting a base in Doron Baga.
Troops repelled the assault after a fierce gun battle lasting nearly an hour.
MARCH 13 — BAMA, BORNO
Troops repelled an attack by ISWAP fighters after an attempted assault on a military base in Banki, Bama LGA of Borno state.
The attack was foiled with support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), and the insurgents were said to have “fled in disarray”.
MARCH 18 — MALAM FATORI, ABADAM LGA, BORNO
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, foiled an infiltration attempt on a military base.
The attackers advanced on foot and deployed armed drones. The military said no fewer than 61 insurgents were killed.
MARCH 28 — MANDARAGIRAU, BIU LGA, BORNO
Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters attempted to overrun a military base in Mandaragirau, Biu LGA, Borno state.
However, troops of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly repelled the attack, killing eight of the insurgents in the process.
APRIL 9 — BENISHEIKH, BORNO
The military base in Benisheikh, Borno, came under attack at about 12:30 am on April 9.
Oseni Braimah, a brigadier-general of the 29 brigade, another officer, and two other soldiers were killed in the attack.
APRIL 13 — MONGUNO, BORNO
A colonel and six soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed on April 13 as insurgents launched an attack on troops at the Charlie 13 location.
The commander and his men were responding to an overnight attack on a military formation in Monguno.
APRIL 20 — KEMANJI, KAIAMA LGA, KWARA
In the most recent attack, three soldiers of the Nigerian army were killed on Monday after suspected terrorists attacked a military base in the Kemanji community of Kaiama LGA of Kwara state.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, governor of Kwara, said the troops neutralised many of the terrorists and also ensured that no one was kidnapped.
The incident highlights growing concerns about attacks beyond the north-east theatre.
WHY THE SURGE IN JIHADIST ATTACKS ON MILITARY BASES IN NIGERIA?
Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at the pan-African think tank Good Governance Africa, told TheCable that attacks by ISWAP picked up pace last year as the group rolled out a campaign it described as the “burning of the camps”or “camp Holocaust” — a strategy aimed at degrading the fighting strength of security forces.
He said the period marked the group’s strongest run since emerging from its split with Boko Haram in 2016, noting that ISWAP carried out a series of coordinated assaults on military bases across the region.
According to him, the pattern was not limited to Nigeria, as similar attacks were recorded in neighbouring Niger Republic and Cameroon.
Other security analysts who spoke to TheCable said the incidents point to a high level of coordination among insurgent groups and expose weaknesses in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
