ISWAP has claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on a Nigerian army position and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force near Mainte in Borno State. The claim was circulated on Wednesday via the X account of security analyst Brant Philip.
According to the group, the attack resulted in the deaths of at least 15 soldiers and CJTF members, the destruction of seven vehicles, and the seizure of weapons from the site. The militants also claimed to have overrun the base.
The announcement triggered strong reactions online. One user, Crespo, wrote, “15 soldiers k!ll£d or what did I just read. Pls tell us this is not true. We can’t continue like this and who’s leaking military movement to the public.”
Others expressed doubts about the extent of the damage. A commentator using the handle Pforpeelyidk1 questioned whether a full base was attacked or a specific position, suggesting the account might be overstated to influence pro-militia narratives.
Another user, SleazyUd, criticised the security response, saying, “What are those soldiers doing? They are always sitting ducks waiting to defend all the time.”
The Nigerian army has not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
