Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) raided a military base in the town of Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area, Yobe State, approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the state capital Damaturu. The terrorists arrived on several trucks armed with heavy guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), attacking the base in a fierce gun battle. They killed at least 11 soldiers, seized weapons, burned down the base, and destroyed several military vehicles and buildings. Videos of the aftermath viewed by an AFP reporter showed the charred remains of an armoured military vehicle, burning military trucks, and the decapitated body of one soldier lying on the dusty ground with its severed head beside it.
2 May 2025 · Buni Gari, Gujba, Yobe
Deaths
11
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
11
Perpetrators
ISWAP
Response
The Nigerian Army confirmed the attack via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, stating: "Troops of Operation HADIN KAI currently in a fierce battle against ISWAP attack at Buni Gari, Yobe State. Details later".
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
The attack was part of a sustained ISWAP campaign to overrun military bases, seize weapons, and assert territorial control. The Buni Gari base was the eighth base attacked by jihadists in two months, indicating a coordinated escalation.
Trajectory
Th attack on Buni Gari was part of a renewed wave of ISWAP violence in the Lake Chad Basin. According to The New Humanitarian, ISWAP launched its most successful military campaign to date in early 2025, overrunning multiple military bases and displacing civilian communities . The group has demonstrated the ability to launch near-simultaneous attacks on disparate sites, conduct more night attacks (suggesting night-vision equipment), and has developed a significant drone capability, including armed drones . The Buni Gari base is home to the army's 27 Task Force Brigade, a key pillar of the "Operation Hadin Kai" counter-terrorism effort
Cycle notes
This attack echoes the pattern of ISWAP military base overruns documented throughout 2025. According to an AFP tally, the Buni Gari base was the eighth military installation attacked by jihadists in the preceding two months . The base had been repeatedly attacked by jihadists in the past . The attack reflects the broader regional trend of resurgent jihadist violence in West Africa, with ISWAP now able to attack any location across Borno and Yobe states . This incident also mirrors the 26 January 2025 Malam-Fatori suicide bombing, where ISWAP killed 20 soldiers, and the 28 April 2025 Kwaple mourner massacre, indicating a sustained campaign of violence across the North East.
Pattern
Military Base Assault
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