Boko Haram insurgents, described as "fleeing" from military operations in Sambisa Forest, attacked Dikwa town on foot. They engaged soldiers in a gun battle lasting over four hours. The attackers killed two soldiers, abducted two female police officers, injured six IDPs, seized a police van, and damaged a Civilian JTF vehicle
31 Jan 2021 · Dikwa, Dikwa, Borno
Deaths
2
Injured
6
Kidnapped
2
Total casualties
8
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
Troops pursued the attackers, who came on foot. The Nigerian Army and Police had not issued official statements at the time of reporting
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
Boko Haram fighters fleeing Sambisa Forest operations launching opportunistic attacks on nearby towns to replenish supplies and demonstrate continued presence.
Trajectory
As ISWAP pushed them out of Sambisa, JAS units became nomadic marauders striking towns like Dikwa not to hold territory, but to loot supplies and kidnap personnel to sustain their dwindling ranks.
Cycle notes
Mirrored earlier attacks including 02 May 2018 – Auno attack where insurgents probed a military position before retreating, 29 June 2018 – Banki IDP camp raid combining looting with engagement against security forces, 24 August 2019 – Gajiram raid involving abductions, looting, and vehicle seizure, 27 December 2020 – Hawul multi-village raids featuring arson and targeted killings, and 06 January 2021 – Geidam infiltration attack involving abduction of a local leader, collectively reflecting a recurring pattern in which Boko Haram conducts opportunistic, mobile assaults on vulnerable towns—often while in retreat or under pressure—engaging security forces briefly while prioritizing abductions, looting, and resource capture to sustain operations and signal continued presence despite territorial displacement.
Pattern
Military Repulsion
Related — Armed Attack
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a targeted attack on farmers in Gajeri village, located within the Konduga Local Government Area. The attackers ambushed the victims while they were working on their farmlands. This incident highlights the ongoing danger faced by agrarian communities in the "red zones" of Borno State, where insurgents frequently target farmers to disrupt local food supplies and extort or punish those perceived as collaborating with security forces.
A group of gunmen stormed Njilang village in Adamawa State, attacking both a church and a market. At least 10 residents were killed in the assault. Witnesses reported that the attackers arrived suddenly, opened fire on worshippers and traders, and fled after causing widespread panic.
Boko Haram insurgents engaged a security detachment, resulting in the deaths of two Nigerian soldiers. The attack occurred during a period of heightened insurgent movement between the Sambisa Forest and the Alagarno hideouts.