For the first time in several years, the city of Maiduguri , capital of Borno State, was the target of a jihadist attack. On Sunday night, suspected militants attacked a military post on the outskirts of the city before being repelled by the Nigerian army.

Course of the attack

The incident occurred around midnight in the Ajilari Cross area, a strategic zone located near the airport.

1. Intensity: The exchange of shots lasted approximately 40 minutes.
2. Human toll: Although no official figures have been released by the authorities, local witnesses report having seen the bodies of four attackers .
3. Simultaneity: Another attack was reported at the same time in the town of Damboa , several dozen kilometers to the south, also repelled by security forces.

A fragile calm shattered

While Maiduguri had regained relative stability since 2021, this incursion marks a worrying turning point. It is part of a general resurgence of violence in the northeast of the country, where Boko Haram and ISWAP are increasing their offensives against military targets.

"This is the first time that attackers have broken into our community and directly targeted the base," testifies Yakaka Ali Gana, a resident of the neighborhood.

Security and diplomatic context

The insurgency, which has lasted for 16 years, has already caused the deaths of more than 40,000 people and displaced 2 million civilians. Faced with this deterioration, the international landscape is changing:

1. US support: The United States recently announced the deployment of 200 soldiers to support the Nigerian army.
2. Political tensions: This support comes amid friction, as Washington has pointed to the Nigerian government's failure to protect civilians from what President Trump has called "genocide." Abuja firmly rejects these accusations.

On Monday morning, calm had returned to Ajilari Cross, but vigilance remains at its highest in a region where the conflict has now spread to neighboring countries (Niger, Chad, Cameroon).