Nigeria: Government forces counterattacking Jan. 16 to retake military base captured by militants in Marte, Borno State

Event

Nigerian government forces have launched a counteroffensive in the Marte Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, Jan. 16, in an effort to retake a local military base that had been seized by militants the previous night. Fighters from the group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter faction of Boko Haram, had assaulted the base late Jan. 15, repelling government troops and declaring that they had taken control of the installation by the morning of Jan. 15. Marte is located 96 km (60 miles) northeast of the state capital Maiduguri.

Heavy fighting has caused hundreds of civilians to flee the area. Authorities have as yet released few details concerning the status of combat operations and no information on casualty figures. However, sources in the Nigeria Defence Headquarters assert that government troops are currently engaged in pursuing retreating militants.

Context

Nigerian authorities continue to maintain that they have degraded ISWAP and that victory over the group is imminent. However, significant threats remain in the restive northeast and Lake Chad region. Boko Haram and its constituent factions will continue to pose a significant threat to security in northeastern Nigeria and in the border areas with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, with regular attacks on civilian settlements and security forces positions almost certain to continue.

Since 2018, ISWAP has emerged as the dominant faction of the fractured Boko Haram organization, with more resources and control of a larger area. This faction remains in competition with the Jama’atu Ahl al-Sunnah lil-Dawa wal-Jihad (JAS) group led by Abubakar Shekau. Nevertheless, increased ransom payments, access to military-grade weaponry taken from the army, and integration with the local economies have bolstered ISWAP, prompting recruitment drives and producing some notable victories against security services.

Advice

Avoid nonessential travel to areas near Marte until the situation stabilizes. If operating in these areas, exercise extreme caution; shelter in place until the current combat operation has ended. Carry proper identification at all times and heed the instructions of local security personnel.