BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 | 02:07 PM

Barely six hours after the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, concluded his operational visit to Borno State, terrorists launched another deadly attack in the state, killing at least eight civilians.

The attack which was launched by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Monday night at Mayenti, a community in Bama Local Government Area was repelled by the troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

According to a reports by Yerwa Express News, the insurgents stormed Mayenti with motorcycles and gun trucks in an attempt to overrun the military base.

Although troops successfully fought off the attackers, the confrontation resulted in the deaths of four members of the volunteer security force who were defending the town.

Four soldiers also went missing during the attack, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

The terrorists, while retreating with the bodies of their fighters, set ablaze two trucks belonging to the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, and killed four laborers working in the area.

Sources further revealed that ISWAP fighters had been gathering around the Mayenti–Dara Jamal axis for at least three days before the attack.

Dara Jamal, a neighboring community, suffered a massacre in September in which more than 60 people were killed.

According to intelligence obtained by Yerwa Express News, the withdrawal of Super Tucano aircraft, specialized fighter pilots, and other key Nigerian Air Force assets from the North East has weakened aerial support for ground forces, giving terrorists increased freedom of movement and escape routes after attacks.

The Monday attack occurred shortly after ISWAP released footage confirming the killing of Brigadier General M. Uba, who was captured over the weekend after breaking a terrorist ambush but later losing contact with his troops.

Reports indicate that General Uba established communication with military high command and rescue teams were deployed, but the efforts were unsuccessful. ISWAP announced his killing on Monday.

Security analysts who spoke to the paper believe that limited air assets may have constrained rapid response efforts, both in preventing the Mayenti attack and in rescuing General Uba.

The renewed wave of assaults comes amid growing concerns following recent statements from U.S. officials suggesting that Nigeria lacks sufficient capability to neutralize insurgent threats.

Citizens across the country have since demanded justice for General Uba and called for a decisive military operation to eliminate terrorist enclaves.