Around 11:50 a.m., ISWAP fighters entered Monguno through two entry points (Charly 1 and Charly 6). They attacked military checkpoints, overran troops after a fierce shootout, roamed the town for three hours, burned a UN humanitarian hub, set fire to the police station, and distributed pamphlets warning residents not to cooperate with the military or Western NGOs
13 Jun 2020 · Monguno, Monguno, Borno
Deaths
36
Injured
37
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
73
Perpetrators
ISWAP
Response
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon condemned the attack, expressed sorrow over the death of civilians, including a four-year-old girl. He confirmed 50 aid workers were in the Monguno hub during the attack, but were unharmed due to protective security measures
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
To physically sever the link between the civilian population and international aid providers.
Trajectory
Represented the administrative challenge phase. ISWAP did not just raid Monguno; they governed it for three hours. By burning the UN hub and distributing literature, they signaled that they are a rival state power capable of providing—or denying—the services traditionally managed by the government and NGOs.
Cycle notes
Mirrored earlier insurgent attacks including 07 January 2020 – Monguno infiltration using deception and coordinated assault on troops, 05 August 2019 – Monguno clash involving prolonged engagement with security forces, 31 October 2018 – Dalori/Kofa/Bulaburin attacks combining village raids with direct confrontation against security elements, 08 September 2018 – Gudumbali overrun leading to temporary insurgent control, and 18 November 2018 – Metele assault involving large-scale coordinated attack on a military base, collectively reflecting a recurring pattern in which Islamic State West Africa Province conducts complex, multi-phase assaults on strategic towns—targeting checkpoints, military positions, and humanitarian infrastructure—while temporarily asserting control, disseminating messaging, and positioning itself as a parallel authority to undermine state and international presence in conflict-affected areas.
Pattern
Checkpoints targeting
Sources
- https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/20-soldiers-40-civilians-killed-in-attacks-nigerias-borno-state/?random-post=1
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-8418251/Militants-kill-20-soldiers-40-civilians-northeast-Nigeria-attacks.html
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/14/20-soldiers-40-civilians-killed-in-attacks-nigerias-borno-state
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