Fury in the Dark: How Nigerian Troops and NAF Airstrikes Crushed a Massive ISWAP Attack on Chibok

In the stillness of the early hours of Saturday, when most of Chibok slept under the fragile comfort of night, a storm was already gathering beyond the tree lines. More than 300 heavily armed ISWAP/Boko Haram fighters crept toward the town in a coordinated ambush, determined to overrun military defences and impose yet another tragedy on a community whose name is forever tied to one of Nigeria’s darkest moments. But what happened next was a display of military precision, resilience, and rapid-response coordination that turned what could have been a devastating assault into a decisive victory for Operation Hadin Kai.

At exactly 3 a.m., the insurgents launched their offensive, unleashing sustained gunfire, explosive volleys, and attempted flanking manoeuvres aimed at overwhelming the 28 Task Force Brigade. Their intent was clear: break the defence lines, destabilise the area, and reassert their presence in southern Borno. Yet, what they met was anything but an unprepared outpost. Soldiers, already on heightened alert due to recent extremist movements around the Timbuktu Triangle, responded immediately with superior firepower and tactical positioning that stalled the attackers before they could make significant inroads.

For nearly two hours, the night sky over Chibok lit up with the fierce exchange of gunfire. Residents, though shaken, reported hearing the intensity of the confrontation from afar, a stark reminder of the lingering threats they continue to face more than eleven years after the mass abduction that drew global outrage in 2014. This time, however, the outcome was different. The ambushers became the hunted.

Unable to break the resistance, the insurgents began retreating in clusters toward the notorious Timbuktu Triangle—a belt of dense vegetation and rugged terrain long used as a hideout by Boko Haram factions. But the troops on ground knew the escape route too well. Without hesitation, they requested immediate air support, setting in motion an aerial offensive that would prove devastating for the fleeing militants.

According to security sources quoted by counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the Nigerian Air Force responded with remarkable swiftness. Moments after the request, a combination of NAF combat aircraft and an armed drone converged on the area, tracking the movement of the retreating fighters. What followed was a series of coordinated airstrikes that left the insurgents with nowhere to run and no room to regroup.

The first wave of airstrikes struck the main body of militants attempting to flee in pickup trucks and on motorcycles. Three more strikes followed in calculated intervals, hammering identified clusters, delaying their movement, and marking escape patterns for the unmanned aerial vehicle sweeping the area from above. When the drone finally moved in with precision-guided hits, it targeted narrow footpaths commonly used by insurgents to disperse into the forest. The result was devastating: regrouping points were destroyed, dozens of fighters were neutralised, and the surviving pockets were forced into disarray.

Military insiders described the operation as one of the most efficient coordinated responses in the area this year. “The insurgents suffered significant losses,” one security source said, emphasising that the combination of ground resistance and air interdiction eliminated any opportunity for the extremists to mount a secondary counteroffensive or return to their camps with captured weapons. The troops, he added, performed with the level of resolve and discipline that the region has demanded for years.

For the people of Chibok, the news came as a mix of relief and grim reflection. The attack served as a reminder that although the intensity of Boko Haram activities has reduced in parts of the Northeast, pockets of ISWAP fighters remain entrenched in hard-to-reach areas, especially around the Sambisa fringes and the Timbuktu Triangle. Chibok, with its tragic past, remains symbolic—and therefore a target. But unlike in 2014, the state is now better positioned, better equipped, and far more committed to ensuring that such horrors are not repeated.

By mid-morning, the Nigerian Army’s clearance operations were already underway. Troops combed surrounding bush paths, dismantling possible escape shelters and searching for abandoned weapons. Security operatives confirmed that no civilian casualties were recorded during the confrontation—a crucial achievement given how closely insurgent attacks often brush against communities. For a town still healing from past wounds, every life preserved is a victory.

Military analysts say the successful defence of Chibok is part of a broader shift in counterterrorism operations in the Northeast, involving better intelligence flow, more responsive air-ground coordination, and upgraded surveillance capabilities. The swift deployment of an armed drone in this operation exemplifies the growing integration of technology in Nigeria’s fight against extremism—an advantage that is increasingly reducing the insurgents’ freedom of movement.

Still, the attempted assault underscores the persistence of ISWAP fighters who, despite internal splits, military pressure, and territorial losses, continue to seek relevance through large-scale operations. Their choice of Chibok was strategic, symbolic, and intended to send a message. Instead, it has now backfired, reinforcing the military’s dominance and exposing vulnerabilities in the insurgents’ mobility routes.

As evening approached and Chibok settled into a calmer Saturday, residents expressed renewed hope, even as they remained aware of the fragile security dynamics around them. For many, the echoes of gunfire that shook the night will be remembered—not with fear, but with gratitude that this time, the attackers were stopped before they could inflict pain on a town that has already endured more than its share of heartbreak.

The victory may not mark the end of the insurgency in Borno, but it stands as a powerful reminder that progress is being made. The courage of the troops on the ground and the precision of the air operations above them combined to prevent what could have been another national tragedy. And in a region often caught between despair and resilience, Saturday’s events reaffirm that the fight continues—with determination, with strategy, and with growing effectiveness—until peace finally returns to communities like Chibok.