NIGERIAN TROOPS REPEL FIRST MAJOR ATTACK ON MAIDUGURI IN FIVE YEARS

MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE – March 16, 2026 – In the early hours of Monday morning, the sounds of war returned to the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, as Nigerian troops successfully repelled a daring assault by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters. The attack, which targeted a military outpost in the Ajilari Cross area, marks the first major incursion into the city limits since 2021.

Residents were jolted awake around 12:30 a.m. by the deafening sounds of heavy artillery, explosions, and sustained gunfire that lasted for approximately 40 minutes. The attack specifically focused on a military formation located just a few kilometers from the Maiduguri International Airport, sending waves of panic through the usually calm suburb.

"I thought we were past this," said a trembling resident who gave his name only as Bukar. "We haven't heard these sounds in Maiduguri for years. We just laid on the floor and prayed."

Security sources tell Orbit News that the insurgents attempted to breach the military outpost but were met with stiff resistance. A joint task force consisting of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, police, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) quickly mobilized. The Air Force provided crucial close air support, circling the area and engaging the fleeing attackers.

By dawn, the situation was under control. Security forces have since cordoned off the Ajilari Cross district, conducting clearance operations to ensure no stragglers remain in the area.

While official casualty figures are yet to be released, military sources confirm that "several terrorists" were neutralized. Residents near the scene reported seeing at least four bodies of the attackers on the ground. Crucially, no civilian casualties have been officially confirmed, though many families temporarily fled the neighborhood during the chaos.

This incident shatters a period of relative calm in Maiduguri, which had been enjoying a reprieve from large-scale urban attacks in recent years. The last significant assault on the city occurred in 2021. However, the attack coincides with a reported spike in insurgent activity against military formations across Borno State, including coordinated raids on positions at Azir Bridge and Banki just days ago.

Governor Babagana Zulum has been briefed on the situation, and security has been further tightened across the metropolis. While the military has successfully defended the city, the attack serves as a grim reminder that the threat from insurgent groups, despite being pushed back, has not been entirely extinguished.