New Video Shows ISWAP Fighters Celebrating During Ambush on Nigerian Army Convoy in Borno

A newly surfaced video has intensified concerns over security in Nigeria’s northeast after fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were seen shouting “Allahu Akbar” while ambushing a Nigerian Army convoy in Mairari, a settlement in Borno State. The footage, which circulated widely on social media on Wednesday, appears to capture the insurgents overwhelming troops during a coordinated attack that led to the loss of military vehicles and equipment.

According to security sources familiar with the incident, the ambush occurred along a known hotspot frequently targeted by insurgents, raising fresh questions about the safety of military movements in the region. The video shows ISWAP fighters advancing on the convoy with heavy gunfire while chanting in celebration, an action security analysts described as a tactic aimed at intimidating both troops and civilians.

Preliminary field reports indicated that four military vehicles were seized in the operation, alongside other tactical equipment. This detail was confirmed by local vigilante members who monitored aftermath activities in the area, according to eye-witness accounts. They added that the attackers appeared to have executed the strike with prior knowledge of the convoy’s movement — a pattern observed in previous ISWAP operations.

Security analysts said the incident highlights the group’s continued operational capacity despite sustained military offensives in Borno. A senior defence analyst noted that the ambush reflects the insurgents’ adaptive strategies, including the use of rapid, mobile units that can strike with little warning. This aligns with earlier observations shared by conflict monitors, who reported that ISWAP has increasingly relied on intelligence-driven attacks against isolated or mobile military units.

The Nigerian Army has not yet released an official statement regarding casualties or recovery efforts. However, according to initial briefings from regional security operatives, reinforcement teams have been deployed to secure the surrounding territory and pursue the attackers.

Residents of Mairari told local media that fear has heightened in the community since the incident, with some describing the sound of gunfire as “unending” during the assault. According to community accounts, several families took temporary refuge in nearby farmlands until the situation calmed.

The latest ambush adds to the series of violent encounters recorded in Borno in recent weeks, raising renewed concerns over the vulnerability of rural communities and the need for enhanced military intelligence and surveillance along high-risk routes.