A Border in Flames

Despite years of counterinsurgency efforts, the endless struggle against ISWAP in northeastern Nigeria has ensured the country remains a war zone with soldiers and civilians alike caught in the crossfire.

Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) recently attacked a Nigerian Army base in Malam-Fatori, a border town in Borno State, killing more than 20 soldiers, including a commanding officer, and wounding several others after a three-hour gun battle. The town, already a tenuous link between Nigeria and its northern neighbour, has once again become a symbol of the Nigerian military’s precarious position in the battle against insurgency.

This tragic episode is but one chapter in a protracted and brutal conflict that has gripped northeastern Nigeria for over a decade. The region has become a cauldron of violence, where groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram operate with near impunity, targeting soldiers and civilians alike. Since Boko Haram’s emergence in 2009, the insurgency has morphed into a hydra-headed monster. The splintering of the group into factions, most notably ISWAP, has intensified the bloodshed. Together, these groups have killed and displaced tens of thousands, transforming Borno into a theater of horror.

Historically, Borno’s troubles are rooted in more than the rise of extremist ideologies. This region has long been one of Nigeria’s most economically and politically marginalized. Decades of underdevelopment, weak state institutions, and endemic corruption created a fertile ground for discontent. When Boko Haram first appeared under the leadership of Mohammed Yusuf, it gained traction by exploiting grievances over poverty, unemployment, and poor governance. What began as a movement ostensibly advocating for Islamic governance quickly devolved into an insurgency marked by atrocities: mass abductions, bombings, and targeted killings.

The Nigerian government’s response to this crisis has been both forceful and faltering. Former President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno and neighbouring states in 2013, launching a military offensive against Boko Haram. While the group suffered initial losses, it regrouped and intensified its attacks. By 2015, Boko Haram had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, leading to the creation of ISWAP. Unlike its predecessor, ISWAP has adopted a more sophisticated and pragmatic approach, focusing its attacks on military and government targets while presenting itself as a provider of services in areas under its control. This shift has made it an even deadlier adversary.

Under President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military general elected in 2015 partly on his promise to crush the insurgency, there have been some gains. The Nigerian military, backed by regional forces and international partners, has reclaimed territory once held by Boko Haram and ISWAP. Yet, the insurgency has proven resilient. The recent attack in Malam-Fatori underscores the challenges that remain. ISWAP’s ability to mount a coordinated assault on a military base demonstrates not only its tactical capabilities but also the weaknesses in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy.

At the heart of the problem is a lack of trust between the military and local communities. Reports of human rights abuses by security forces, ranging from extrajudicial killings to forced disappearances, have alienated the very people whose cooperation is essential for effective counterinsurgency. Moreover, corruption within the military has siphoned resources away from the frontlines, leaving soldiers ill-equipped and demoralized.

The international community has lent its support, but its involvement has been limited. While the United States and other nations have provided military aid and training, the broader geopolitical focus has often shifted away from Nigeria’s crisis. As global attention gravitates toward flashpoints like Ukraine and the Middle East, northeastern Nigeria risks becoming a forgotten conflict.

The implications of this neglect are dire. The insurgency in Borno is not an isolated issue but part of a broader instability across the Sahel region. Groups like ISWAP are adept at exploiting porous borders and weak governance to expand their reach. Without sustained local and international efforts to address the root causes of extremism, Nigeria’s northeast will remain trapped in a cycle of violence.