Nine Nigerian soldiers were killed in a gunfight with Boko Haram jihadists near the town of Baga, Borno State, on the shores of Lake Chad. The soldiers were returning from a mass burial of 40 farmers killed by ISWAP militants on 12 January in Dumba when the firefight erupted late on Tuesday. According to two military officers who spoke to AFP, seven soldiers died on the spot, while two others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. One soldier was wounded, and five others remained missing following the clash. It was unclear whether Boko Haram suffered any casualties. The clash occurred as Boko Haram had given permission to residents to bury the dead bodies of farmers killed by rival ISWAP militants, anticipating an ISWAP attack on the funeral.
14 Jan 2025 · Baga, Kukawa, Borno
Deaths
9
Injured
1
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
10
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
The soldiers were returning from a mass burial of farmers killed by ISWAP when they encountered Boko Haram militants. The gunfight erupted late Tuesday. Boko Haram had given permission for the burial, anticipating an ISWAP attack on the funeral procession.
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
The clash occurred in the context of deadly infighting between ISWAP and Boko Haram for territorial control of the Lake Chad region, a sanctuary for both groups since their split in 2016 . The soldiers were caught in the crossfire between the two rival factions.
Trajectory
The clash reflects the persistent and complex dynamics of the Lake Chad region, where two rival jihadist factions — Boko Haram and ISWAP — operate in close proximity, often clashing with each other while also targeting civilians and security forces. The incident occurred just two days after the ISWAP massacre of 40 farmers in Dumba, underscoring the intense competition for territorial control in the area.
Cycle notes
This attack mirrored previous ISWAP vehicle-borne suicide attacks targeting Nigerian military convoys in Borno and Yobe states, including the March 2024 attack on a military base in Gubio and the 2023 Gorgi ambush that killed dozens of soldiers. The use of the Timbuktu Triangle as an operational base mirrors the group's long-standing strategy of using remote, inaccessible terrain in the Lake Chad region to stage attacks and evade counter-insurgency operations. The attack also foreshadowed later 2025 offensives in the same area, where ISWAP attempted another assault on Malam-Fatori in November 2025 using armed drones, which was repelled by Nigerian and Nigerien forces.
Pattern
Rival Insurgent Dynamics — This clash highlights the complex dynamics of the Lake Chad region, where rival factions ISWAP and Boko Haram operate in close proximity, with civilians caught in the crossfire.
Related — Armed Attack
Hundreds of Boko Haram insurgents, numbering between 200 and 500 fighters and dressed in military uniforms, launched a coordinated, multi-pronged assault on multiple military installations in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and birthplace of the insurgency . The attackers, arriving on motorcycles and in approximately 20 pickup vans and captured military vehicles, targeted the Nigerian Air Force base, the 33 Battalion army barracks, military checkpoints, and the Maiduguri International Airport. They also attacked a trailer park, police stations, shops, petrol stations, and residential and public buildings, leaving a path of destruction several kilometers long
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked the village and killed 5 residents
A gunfight broke out at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State. Military personnel had brought in a wounded Boko Haram suspect for treatment when militants attacked the hospital gate. The battle quickly spread to other parts of the city, including the governor‘s residence. For several hours, the insurgents, armed with automatic rifles and explosive devices, engaged the Joint Task Force (JTF) “Operation Restore Order” in a fierce, citywide confrontation. Police and military reinforcements were brought in to contain the violence, which spilled over into the following day and left dozens dead. At least 20 civilians and five security personnel (three policemen and two soldiers) were killed according to the Red Cross, while a hospital official counted 34 bodies in the morgue and gave a final toll of 43 dead.