By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Suspected Boko Haram or ISWAP jihadists launched an overnight assault on a Nigerian military position in the Ajilari Cross district, a southwestern suburb of Maiduguri, in the early hours of Wednesday, March 11, 2026 marking the first major attack on the outskirts of Borno State capital in several years.
The attackers struck around midnight, targeting the military base before attempting to infiltrate nearby civilian areas. Residents and emergency services reported heavy gunfire lasting several hours, with the military swiftly repelling the assault.
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Security Agencies Confirm Foiled Attack Borno State Police Command spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso confirmed the incident on Thursday, stating: “There were reports of a foiled attack by suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists around Ajilari Cross. The military were able to repel them. Although an unknown number of civilians yet to be ascertained were also affected and killed. Some are still missing and probably some were abducted and taken towards the Mandara Mountains.”
He added that the community remained calm on Thursday morning, with the military firmly in control of the area. Daso also dismissed unverified reports of the local Chief Imam being killed, noting that investigations are ongoing to account for all missing persons.
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An emergency services spokesman in Borno told AFP they received “reports of attacks” by non-state armed groups and confirmed they were “repelled by the military,” with no civilian casualties officially recorded so far.
Local Eyewitness Accounts Residents who spoke to DDNewsOnline and other media outlets on condition of anonymity provided more graphic details: The insurgents arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and gun trucks, initially overwhelming the troops at the base, Locals counted four corpses of attackers left behind after the military repelled the assault., “We started hearing gunshots coming from the military base around 12:15 a.m. Later, we realised it was an attack by insurgents believed to be Boko Haram,” said resident Mustapha Aminu.
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Another resident, Yakaka Ali Gana, described it as “the first time attackers have stormed our community and attacked the military base.” Several sources claimed nine soldiers may have been killed, though this remains unconfirmed by official sources.
Many residents fled toward Pulka town for safety, fearing follow-up attacks. Some reported that the insurgents set fire to parts of the town as they retreated toward the Mandara Mountains.
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Maiduguri, once the epicentre of frequent shootings and bombings in the mid-2010s, has enjoyed relative calm in recent years. The last major attack on the city was in 2021, when Boko Haram fired mortars, killing 10 people. An unclaimed bombing at a city mosque in December 2025 killed at least seven.
The latest assault highlights the persistent threat from remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP factions despite sustained military operations under Operation Hadin Kai.
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Governor Babagana Zulum is yet to issue an official statement, but security sources indicate that additional troops have been deployed to Gwoza and surrounding areas to prevent further incursions.
This is a developing story. DDNewsOnline is monitoring for updates on casualty figures, official military statements, and any rescue or pursuit operations.
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By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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