Militant group ISWAP releases footage showing alleged fatal raids on military outposts

The Islamic State West Africa Province has taken credit for a string of attacks targeting Nigerian security forces and neighbouring countries, as outlined in a statement released on Thursday and obtained by our correspondent on X.

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This statement, initially written in Arabic and later translated into English, details the group's alleged use of coordinated ambushes, roadside explosives, and attacks on checkpoints, as well as the destruction of military vehicles.

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Among the claims made by the group is an alleged attack on a military patrol in northern Nigeria, in which seven soldiers, including a Major, were reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device.

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The group's publication describes the incident, stating that the roadside bomb exploded directly on the patrol, resulting in the deaths of seven soldiers, including a Major, and wounding others, while also destroying a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

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ISWAP also claims to have attacked an army position near the outskirts of a town, with the intention of luring troops into an ambush, according to the document reviewed.

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The group further accuses troops of taking retaliatory actions against civilian homes near Monguno, alleging that houses were burned as punishment for failing to report insurgent movements, which ISWAP describes as "desperate and uncivilised steps" to cover up military failures.

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Additionally, ISWAP claims to have carried out separate attacks on police personnel and local militias, alleging that dozens were killed in multiple operations across Nigeria and the neighbouring Niger Republic.

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The publication also reports that fighters attacked a checkpoint at the entrance of Rifa city in the Niger Republic with machine guns, resulting in five killed and wounded, as well as the burning of a four-wheel-drive vehicle and the seizure of eight machine guns.

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Furthermore, the publication features a graphic section claiming that 11 attacks were carried out within one week, resulting in 42 vehicles being burned or disabled.

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Beyond West Africa, the propaganda material also contains claims of attacks in Syria, including an alleged assault on a government vehicle north of Raqqa.

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Security analysts have warned that such publications are often aimed at boosting recruitment, spreading fear, and exaggerating battlefield successes rather than presenting independently verified facts.

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A security source notes that insurgent groups often use propaganda to project strength even when under sustained military pressure, cautioning that "these claims should always be treated with caution because terrorists rely heavily on misinformation and psychological warfare".