Islamist insurgents killed at least 15 people, including 12 soldiers and three civilians, in a series of coordinated overnight attacks across northeast Nigeria, according to military sources and local residents.
The assaults targeted multiple locations in Borno and Yobe states and underscored the continued strength of militant groups operating in the region despite years of military offensives.
Nigeria has battled a 17-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a conflict that aid organizations say has killed thousands and displaced more than two million people.
The latest attacks struck the communities of Kukawa and Dalwa in Borno state and the town of Goniri in neighboring Yobe state, just days after militants launched a similar assault on an army post in Ngoshe.
In Kukawa district, fighters from Boko Haram and ISWAP launched a pre-dawn attack on Monday, advancing toward a nearby military camp. Soldiers said the battle lasted around three hours as troops fought to repel the assault.
Although government forces eventually retook the camp, the fighting left the commanding officer and five soldiers dead, a military source said. Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, the lawmaker representing Kukawa, confirmed the attack and the death of the officer.
In Dalwa, militants killed two soldiers and three civilians before setting fire to more than 250 homes, according to local resident and traditional leader Shetima Isa.
Meanwhile in Yobe state, insurgents overran a military base in Goniri, killing four soldiers and destroying vehicles and buildings during the assault, another soldier said.
The Nigerian Army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The attacks come as Nigerian forces have intensified operations against insurgent strongholds this year as part of a renewed campaign. However, militant groups continue to exploit the region’s difficult terrain, porous borders and limited state presence across the arid northeast.
The latest wave of violence occurred just hours after military intelligence reportedly warned that ISWAP was preparing a fresh offensive in the region.