A suspected member of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has reportedly issued threats of a possible attack on Malam Fatori town in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, following the neutralisation of 75 terrorists during a failed assault on March 18, 2026.
According to intelligence sources, the cleric, who reportedly led this year’s Eid-Fitr prayers near Sabon Tumbu, warned during his sermon that the group would retaliate against Nigerian troops for recent military operations in Malam Fatori.
He allegedly threatened that the town could be “reduced to ashes” in a reprisal attack, stressing that such statements by insurgents should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric.
Security sources noted that past experiences have shown insurgent groups often act on their threats, urging troops deployed in the area to remain on high alert and adequately equipped to counter any potential assault.
They warned that attackers could deploy heavy firepower, coordinated assaults, and vehicle-borne explosive devices in any attempted offensive.
Malam Fatori has long been regarded as a stronghold of military resistance against terrorist elements. Over the years, the town has recorded decisive victories against ISWAP fighters, earning the nickname “Graveyard of ISWAP” and a reputation as difficult terrain for insurgents to operate.
Troops of the Armed Forces, supported by other security agencies, are said to be on heightened alert, with defensive positions fortified in anticipation of any attempted incursion. Intelligence gathering and surveillance have also been intensified, while logistics and operational readiness have reportedly been enhanced to ensure any threat is decisively neutralised.
“Experience has shown that insurgents often suffer heavy losses whenever they attempt to attack well-defended positions like Malam Fatori,” a source said.
