Ambush of the Islamic State leaves 5 Nigerian soldiers dead

Plink five Nigerian soldiers were killed today in the northeast of the country, when their vehicle detonated a land mine placed by jihadists linked to the Islamic State group, according to a military and civilian source.

The attack took place in the morning in the village of Bulabuwarna, seven kilometres from Geidam district in the state of Yobe, when the troops fell into an ambush prepared by the jihadists, advanced the sources to AFP.

One military vehicle was destroyed in the explosion, another was set on fire and a third was taken over by the Islamic State fighters in West Africa (ISWAP), who carried out the attack using mines and firearms, declared a military officer.

The ISWAP and rival jihadist group Boko Haram have increasingly resorted to laying mines on the roads to reach military and civilian caravans.

“ They killed five soldiers, including a company commander,” said AFP. “The caravan was headed for Geidam, coming from Kanamma — in the surrounding local government area of Yunusari — when it was ambushed with an IED (improvised explosive device) prepared by ISWAP terrorists.”.

A rescuer at Geidam General Hospital stated that at least 13 soldiers were also injured in the attack.

This is the latest in a series of lethal attacks carried out in recent days by jihadists against Nigerian troops in the northeast of the country.

“ We have 15 dead in Maiari, eight in Guzamala, eight in an attack with IED in Gamboru, eight killed in Kukawa and now five killed in Geidam,” the military officer told AFP.

For more than 17 years the state of Borno (northeast) has been the epicenter of the jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram — and later by its dissident and rival group, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) — which has made thousands dead and millions displaced.

The Jihadist insurgency reached its peak a decade ago, but after a decline it has again increased in the last two years.

According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), in the second quarter of 2026 Nigeria has registered its highest level of violence in almost three decades.