Four Nigerian soldiers have been killed and three others injured after an ambush by militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād in Borno State.
Military sources told SaharaReporters that the ambush occurred along the Gwoza/Bitta Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
The sources added that military vehicles, several weapons, and ammunition were stolen and burnt during the attack.
SaharaReporters gathered that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following intelligence when the group ambushed them.
“On 04 October, 2025, at approximately 0845hrs, along the Gwoza–Bitta road in Gwoza LGA, Borno State, information was received that a Nigerian Army convoy was ambushed by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists,” a military internal memo read.
“The incident resulted in four Nigerian Army (soldiers) killed in action (KIA) and three wounded in action (WIA). The bodies of the deceased personnel were reportedly being conveyed to Maimalari Cantonment at the time of reporting.”
Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in northeastern Nigeria.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated and frequently underplays losses.
In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents.
