In a brutal escalation of violence, at least four Nigerian soldiers have been reported dead following a coordinated assault by suspected Islamist fighters on two military installations in northeastern Borno State, according to security sources.

The notorious groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have intensified their operations in the region, targeting both security personnel and civilians alike. The latest assaults come as the humanitarian crisis deepens, displacing tens of thousands and claiming countless lives over the past decade-long insurgency.

The violence erupted late Monday when militants launched attacks on an army base located in the Wajiroko area around 2100 GMT, setting military equipment ablaze and overwhelming the facility. A soldier stationed within the Wajiroko brigade confirmed via phone that at least four troops were killed and several others wounded, including their brigade commander.

Simultaneously, another military post in the town of Wulgo, near the border with Cameroon, also faced an attack from the same insurgent groups. Details regarding casualties from this second assault remain unclear as inquiries to a Nigerian army spokesperson went unanswered.

Local militia member Makinta Modu, who has been recruited to assist the Nigerian Army, reported that during the Wajiroko attack, militants managed to seize control of an army "forward operation base." "Around 10:30 p.m. (2130 GMT), air force fighter jets arrived for support... and inflicted heavy casualties on many of the ISWAP fighters that had overtaken the military base," Modu stated, adding that it remains uncertain whether the Nigerian forces have successfully regained control.

Despite being weakened through years of military campaigns and internal strife, both Boko Haram and ISWAP have significantly ramped up their assaults on military and civilian targets throughout Borno State since the beginning of the year. The region has long been mired in turmoil as an Islamist insurgency festers, while rampant kidnapping, banditry, and separatist violence continue to plague other parts of Nigeria.

This latest wave of attacks serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing security crisis in northeastern Nigeria, where the fight against these extremist factions is far from over, leaving both military and civilian communities in a state of fear and uncertainty.