Soldiers Feared Dead as ISWAP Storms Army Base in Borno

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG

“Fresh assault on Jakana outpost underscores evolving insurgent tactics and persistent security gaps in Nigeria’s northeast.”

Several Nigerian soldiers are feared dead after suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter faction, launched a coordinated assault on a military outpost in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, in the early hours of Friday, February 6, 2026, according to multiple security and media reports.

What happened
Security sources say heavily armed insurgents stormed the army outpost along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway in a surprise attack, opening fire and using explosives against the base.

The attackers reportedly approached from multiple directions, overwhelming the soldiers stationed at the location.

At least four soldiers were confirmed killed in the initial reports, while other accounts indicated that the casualty figure could be higher, though still unconfirmed at the time of filing this report.

Military sources said the bodies of fallen troops were evacuated to the 7 Division Military Hospital in Maiduguri.

The insurgents also destroyed armoured vehicles and trucks before looting ammunition and supplies from the facility.

Where and when
The attack occurred in Jakana, a strategic town on the Maiduguri–Damaturu road, a critical military and civilian corridor linking Borno to neighboring Yobe State.

The incident took place in the early hours of Friday, February 6, 2026, according to security sources quoted in local reports.

Who was involved
The attackers were identified as militants belonging to ISWAP, the Islamic State-aligned faction that split from Boko Haram and has since become one of the most active insurgent groups in the Lake Chad region.

On the Nigerian side, the victims were soldiers stationed at the Jakana outpost. As of the time of publication, the Nigerian military had not released the names of the casualties, a common practice pending official notification of next of kin.

How the attack unfolded
According to military sources, the insurgents launched a coordinated, multi-directional assault, combining gunfire with explosives to neutralize defensive positions.

The intensity of the attack forced some soldiers to retreat into nearby bush areas as the militants overran parts of the facility.

Recent intelligence reports indicate that insurgent factions in the northeast have increasingly adopted more sophisticated tactics, including drone-assisted strikes and coordinated raids on military bases.

Why it happened
Security analysts say such attacks are typically aimed at:

Seizing weapons and ammunition

Destroying military infrastructure

Demonstrating operational capability

Undermining troop morale and public confidence

The Jakana attack follows a pattern of assaults on forward operating bases across Borno and neighboring states. In similar incidents, insurgents have targeted isolated formations, looted equipment, and withdrawn before reinforcements arrive.

Brief background
Boko Haram’s insurgency, which began in 2009, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across northeastern Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad basin.

In recent years, ISWAP has emerged as a more structured and tactically organized faction, focusing on military targets and strategic infrastructure.

Despite repeated claims by authorities that the insurgency has been largely degraded, attacks on military formations and civilian communities have continued. Just last week, militants killed dozens of people, including soldiers, in another assault in Borno State.

Expert perspective
Security analyst Dr. Bulama Bukarti, a senior fellow at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, has previously warned that insurgent groups in the Lake Chad region are “adapting faster than the states fighting them,” noting that they are increasingly using mobility, intelligence, and surprise to exploit weakly defended bases.

Similarly, Dr. Zainab Usman, director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has argued that “military victories without parallel governance and economic stabilization efforts tend to be temporary,” emphasizing the need for a broader, multi-dimensional strategy.

Official response
As of the time of publication, the Nigerian military had not issued a comprehensive official statement detailing casualty figures or the operational outcome of the attack.

However, in previous incidents, military authorities have insisted that troops continue to repel insurgent offensives and inflict heavy losses on the attackers.

The unanswered questions
The latest assault raises familiar concerns:

Why are forward operating bases still vulnerable to surprise attacks?

Are troop numbers and equipment at these outposts sufficient?

Has the insurgency entered a new tactical phase?

These questions continue to shape public debate as Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign enters its second decade.

Names of those involved
As of this report:

Confirmed insurgent group: ISWAP (Boko Haram faction)

Military casualties: At least four soldiers confirmed dead; additional casualties feared

Names of soldiers: Not yet released by the Nigerian military

In most military operations, identities of fallen soldiers are withheld until families are formally notified.

Summary
The attack on the Jakana military outpost is another stark reminder that, despite years of offensives and official assurances, insurgent groups remain capable of launching deadly and coordinated strikes against Nigerian security forces.

Until the military releases a full operational report and casualty list, the precise toll may remain uncertain. Though the incident once again underscores the enduring volatility of Nigeria’s northeast and the urgent need for a strategy that combines military strength with intelligence, governance and regional cooperation.

*AU Agenda 2063 Nominates Amb. Daniel Koussou as African Union Special Envoy on Oil and Gas*

The African Union’s Agenda 2063, a distinguished body of Ambassadors committed to advancing the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years, has nominated one of his ambassadors, Daniel Koussou, as African Union Special Envoy on Oil and Gas (Continental).

Based on the objectives of The Agenda 2063 the AU’s 50-year framework for structural transformation, sustainable development, and economic integration, Koussou’s high-level advocacy role for oil and gas will focus on ensuring that Africa’s hydrocarbon resources contribute to continental prosperity, industrialization, and energy security.

Additionally, the CEO and Founder of Dau-O-Gik Oil and Gas, will represent the AU in international forums to ensure Africa’s developmental needs are not sidelined in global decarbonization debates.

At the heart of The Agenda 2063 is the vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

Gentleman par excellence, Koussou, by his track record, embodies the values and aspirations of The Agenda 2063. His nomination therefore is timely and crucial in transforming the vision of The Agenda 2063 into a reality, ensuring that Africa’s future is one of sustainable growth, shared prosperity, and lasting peace.

A distinguished diplomat and global leader, Ambassador Daniel Koussou was recently appointed as one of the key experts leading these discussions by BIGWIL International Community of CEOs and Diplomatic Forum, under the aegis of the International Human Rights Observatory – Africa (IHRO-Africa) tasked to chair the Committee on Economic Diplomacy, Trade, and Investment for the forum’s Nigeria chapter.

Koussou’s leadership and vision, notably, are set to inspire meaningful dialogues about Nigeria’s economic potential and its vital role in international relations.

Manipulation: Ignorance Is a License to Bondage — Dr. Chris Okafor

“Nothing honours until a spirit interferes.”

Manipulation, broadly defined, is the act of influencing or controlling a person or situation through subtle or overt tactics for personal advantage. In many cases, such influence is perfected through spiritual interference, because the spiritual realm ultimately governs the physical.

This profound subject formed the focus of the midweek non-denominational Prophetic Healing, Deliverance and Solutions (PHDS) Service ministered by the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Worldwide, Dr. Chris Okafor, at the international headquarters of the ministry in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.

Speaking on the topic “Manipulation”, with the subtitle “The Spiritual Aspect,” Dr. Okafor explained that manipulation exists in two dimensions: demonic manipulation and divine manipulation.

Demonic Manipulation

According to the Generational Prophet, demonic manipulation represents the negative expression of spiritual control, where individuals are influenced by the spirit of darkness to act contrary to their true intentions and divine purpose.

He noted that under demonic manipulation, people often say or do things their inner conscience did not authorize, acting solely under satanic influence. This, he explained, accounts for the increasing hostility, false accusations, and defamatory statements directed at genuine servants of God in contemporary times.

“Many people speak evil against true men of God, maligning those sent by God to help them. Often, it is not entirely their fault—it is the work of demonic manipulation,” he stated.

Dr. Okafor, however, offered reassurance, emphasizing that a prayerful life and proper spiritual alignment provide immunity against such attacks. He stressed that when a believer is connected to a spiritual father and guided correctly, no level of manipulation can stop destiny or destroy God-ordained blessings.

He warned that unchecked manipulation can damage destiny and limit access to divine blessings.

Divine Manipulation

The Prophet further taught that just as there is demonic manipulation aimed at destruction, there is also divine manipulation—the intervention of God to protect, guide, and align His people with His eternal purpose.

“If there is a demon manipulating destinies wrongly, there is also a God in heaven who divinely interferes to preserve glory,” he declared.

Dr. Okafor explained that believers who understand the principles of serving God in truth and in spirit operate under divine manipulation, where God orchestrates events in their favour. Under such covering, no demonic manipulation can prevail.

He added that consistent prayer, commitment to kingdom service, partnership with God’s work, and active soul-winning neutralize every form of demonic interference.

Solutions to Manipulation

According to Dr. Okafor, the ultimate safeguard against manipulation is a disciplined prayer life and total commitment to the things of God. Such spiritual alignment ensures that no demonic influence can infiltrate a believer’s path.

The PHDS midweek service witnessed a mighty move of the Holy Spirit, marked by deliverance, healings, miracles, restoration, and divine solutions to numerous cases presented before Elohim, the God of Grace Nation.