On the night of November 17, 2025, militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a violent attack on a military base in Mayenti, a town within the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. The insurgents arrived on motorcycles attempting to overrun the facility, a location near Dara Jamal, known for previous terrorist attacks including a massacre that claimed over 60 lives in September.

The Nigerian troops engaged the militants in battle as part of Operation Hadin Kai. While several ISWAP fighters were killed during the confrontation, the attack resulted in the deaths of four vigilantes—members of the civilian joint task force assisting security efforts—and left four soldiers missing. In addition, as the terrorists retreated, they set fire to two trucks owned by the Borno State Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Resettlement and killed four labourers in the process.

This attack followed closely on the heels of ISWAP’s release of a video showing the execution of Samaila Uba, a Nigerian Army brigadier-general. General Uba had previously escaped an ambush on November 15 but lost contact with his troops while awaiting a rescue mission, only to be captured and killed by the insurgents.

The twin incidents—the killing of the brigadier-general and the assault on the military base—have intensified concerns over Nigeria’s capacity to counter the insurgency in the northeast. Public outrage has grown, with citizens demanding decisive government action to eliminate terrorist threats in the region and across the country.

In response, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has called for increased procurement of drones and the adoption of technology-driven surveillance to improve counterinsurgency efforts. He has also urged the military to coordinate operations among the Air Force, Navy, and Army, focusing on key insurgent strongholds such as the Lake Chad area, Sambisa Forest, and the Mandara Mountains. Additionally, the governor has requested increased funding for the military and the Multi-National Joint Task Force and called for national unity in combating the insurgency.

Governor Zulum’s statements followed remarks by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the escalating insecurity, particularly the death of Brigadier General Uba, as a serious threat to Nigeria’s stability. Atiku urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate action or step down, emphasizing that the current trajectory is unsustainable.

The attacks come shortly after the appointment of new service chiefs, with the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, visiting Borno State to assure continued commitment from the Nigerian Air Force. Aneke pledged to improve air-ground coordination, strengthen intelligence operations, and work closely with the state government and security agencies to restore peace and security.

Attempts to reach Sani Uba, Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for Operation Hadin Kai, for comments on the attack were unsuccessful.