Efforts of the current administration of the federal government step up counterinsurgency operations and return internally displaced people to their homes suffered devastating setback weekend when jihadists in Northeatern state of Borno launched surprise attack in government’s forces, killing several soldiers and civilians.

Oracle Intelligence gathered from local sources and agency reports that over 55 soldiers and civilians died in the weekend attack in Darul Jama area of Borno state. The jihadists identified as members of Islamic State in the West African Province (ISWAP) also known as Boko Haram launched the attack after many of displaced victims had returned to the town following assurance from the security forces.

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It was reported that the Boko Haram fighters stormed the village on motorbikes Friday evening and began shooting indiscriminately at the residents and also setting their homes ablaze.

Village Head whose name was not given stated that the assailants had gone from house to house killing male villagers. They are said to have spared the female residents during the onslaught.

While official death numbers were given as 55, eye witnesses counted 70 bodies while many remained missing by Saturday morning.

The attack marks latest show of resilience and determination with which ISWAP has mounted territorial claim in Nigeria’s Christian dominated Northeast where the Boko Haram has sustained an onslaught to displace local residents, seize their women for forced marriage to their gunmen and establish an Islamic caliphate.

The violence has so far claimed around 40,000 lives and displaced over two million people.

Oracle Intelligence reports that the insurgency which started as political tool to displace the government of President Goodluck Jonathan had its command structures usurped by ISWAP in 2016.

According to a tally by Good Governance Africa, a nonprofit, the first six months of 2025 saw resurgence in jihadist activity, with some 300 attacks killing about 500 civilians.

Nigeria’s military says it has stepped up counterinsurgency operations in recent months to try to curb the activities of these outfits; but the latest attack raises questions about the effectiveness of the security operations. It also marks a setback for efforts to close down camps for the internally displaced people and return them to their villages.