Key Points

• Insurgents fleeing military raids attacked a Borno community.

• Troops and civilian JTF forces responded swiftly to the attack.

• Military continues operations across Sambisa forest hideouts.

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked the Wulgo community in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State early Friday, following intensified military operations in the Sambisa forest.

According to local security sources, the insurgents, believed to be escaping from recent offensives by Nigerian forces in the Sambisa forest, launched the attack at about 2 a.m. Thursday night.

“They came quietly around 2 a.m., and a shootout followed between them and the military,” said a security source who asked to remain anonymous.

“They didn’t appear to target civilians, and reinforcements, including the Civilian Joint Task Force, arrived in the morning.”

The attack came just hours after the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa, visited Maiduguri in response to recent strikes on military positions in the region.

Reinforcements respond quickly to repel attackers

The suspected insurgents were reportedly fleeing from Garin Malam Ali, Garin Glucose, and Ukuba—areas deep within the Sambisa forest—where military operations have been ongoing throughout the week.

Although no civilian casualties have been reported so far, the incident marks another reminder of the persistent threat posed by remnants of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cells.

Efforts to reach Reuben Kovangiya, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, were unsuccessful as of press time.

Insurgents fleeing Sambisa forest spark renewed tensions

Despite earlier gains made by the Nigerian military against terror groups in the northeast, attacks have intensified in recent months.

This resurgence has prompted renewed military focus on clearing remaining insurgent strongholds in and around Sambisa forest.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has acknowledged the spike in attacks and reaffirmed his administration’s partnership with the federal government to permanently defeat the insurgents.

Military officials say the ongoing operations will continue until the entire region is secured.

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