A deadly ambush has claimed the lives of nine members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) following a fierce overnight battle with suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/Boko Haram insurgents in the Marte area of Borno State.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at approximately 1:10 am, when heavily armed fighters launched an assault on CJTF positions.
Despite being outnumbered, the CJTF successfully repelled the attackers, but as they attempted to recover a fallen member’s body, they triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the retreating insurgents, killing nine CJTF members instantly.
Several civilians captured by the insurgents were also gruesomely executed before the terrorists fled.
Security forces are continuing to monitor the situation and clear additional explosives, underscoring the persistent threat posed by ISWAP/Boko Haram factions in the region.
