ISIS on the march in Nigeria after years on defense
Northern Nigeria is facing an ascendant ISIS insurgency, drawing Washington into the fray.
TL;DR
- ISIS, particularly ISWAP, is on the offensive in northern Nigeria after years on the defensive, launching major military campaigns like "Camp Holocaust."
- ISWAP has adapted its tactics to counter the Nigerian military's "Super Camp" strategy by gathering larger forces, attacking at night, and using new drones, with training from ISIS trainers.
- The Nigerian military is stretched thin by multiple types of violence and cross-border issues, exacerbated by the withdrawal of some West African nations from ECOWAS.
- The U.S. has increased its focus on the Nigerian insurgency, partly due to concerns over atrocities against Christians and the loss of Niger as a counterterrorism partner.
- U.S. assistance includes drone strikes, training, and intelligence sharing, which are considered helpful but not a decisive solution to the complex insurgency.