Militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly taken full control of Marte Local Government Area in Borno State after launching a powerful offensive that overpowered Nigerian troops over the past weekend.

According to a military source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the insurgents carried out a series of coordinated attacks that forced the Nigerian Army to withdraw from their positions by May 12, 2025.

Additional information from the source confirmed that after multiple sporadic attacks, the military retreated from Marte at around 3:00 AM on May 12.

“Numerous soldiers were captured, while others deserted. Those who fled toward Dikwa are now at the 24 Task Force Brigade. ISWAP is now in full control of Marte,” the source said.

He added, “Gunfire was heard in Dikwa, and Nigerian Air Force aircraft were seen circling the area. The number of casualties remains unknown.”

According to Naija News, the fall of Marte—a strategically important location in the Lake Chad region—marks a major setback for Nigerian forces struggling to contain the long-running insurgency in the North-East.

Marte has frequently changed hands in recent years, making it both a symbolic and tactical prize in the conflict between ISWAP and government forces.

Sources also reported that many Nigerian soldiers were killed in a separate Boko Haram assault on an army base in Borno State. This latest attack occurred on Saturday night at the 153 Task Force Battalion base in Marte, forcing military personnel to abandon their positions.

During the raid, insurgents allegedly torched armored vehicles and captured ammunition, according to military sources.

“There was another Boko Haram attack on the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte on Saturday night. Many soldiers are feared dead, and we’ve lost communication with the base since the incident,” a Nigerian Army major told SaharaReporters.

The 153rd Battalion has repeatedly clashed with Boko Haram militants, including ambushes and efforts to reclaim key locations like Marte.

This development follows another recent tragedy where 22 soldiers, including a commanding officer, were killed in an attack on a military post in Malam-Fatori, located in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

For over a decade, Nigeria has grappled with a brutal insurgency in its North-East region, spearheaded by extremist groups like Boko Haram. The group, which emerged in the early 2000s, escalated its violent campaign around 2009 with frequent bombings, mass abductions, and attacks on both military and civilian targets.