ISWAP released an Arabic statement on Thursday, later posted on X, in which it claimed a series of coordinated attacks on Nigerian security forces and neighbouring countries. The group said it used roadside explosives, checkpoint assaults and vehicle destruction, citing a northern Nigeria patrol ambushed by an improvised explosive device that killed seven soldiers, including a Major, wounded others and destroyed a four‑wheel‑drive vehicle. The statement read: "What actually happened was that the roadside bomb exploded directly on the patrol, causing the death of seven soldiers, including an officer with the rank of Major, wounding others, and destroying a four‑wheel‑drive vehicle."
ISWAP also alleged an assault on an army position near a town's outskirts designed to lure troops into an ambush, and accused the army of burning civilian homes near Monguno for not reporting insurgent movements, calling the response "desperate and uncivilised steps by the army to cover up its repeated failures and heavy losses."
Further claims included attacks on police and local militias that killed dozens across Nigeria and the Niger Republic, and a checkpoint raid at the entrance of Rifa city in Niger where "Five were killed and wounded, while a four‑wheel‑drive vehicle was burned and eight machine guns were seized before the fighters returned safely."
A graphic section said 11 attacks were carried out within one week, resulting in 42 vehicles burned or disabled, and the propaganda also mentioned an assault on a government vehicle north of Raqqa in Syria. Security analysts warned that such releases aim to inflate perceived strength, while a security source told The PUNCH that "These claims should always be treated with caution because terrorists rely heavily on misinformation and psychological warfare."
ISWAP's bold claim of killing seven soldiers, including a Major, underscores the group's intent to project lethal capability. By pairing battlefield narratives with accusations of army retaliation on civilians near Monguno, the release seeks to sow distrust in the security forces. Ordinary Nigerians living in conflict‑prone areas may face heightened insecurity as both insurgents and the military intensify propaganda and retaliatory actions. This pattern of exaggerated claims fits a broader strategy by militant groups to manipulate public perception and recruit supporters amid ongoing military pressure.
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