ABUJA, Nigeria — Recent confrontations in northeastern Borno state led to the deaths of at least six Nigerian soldiers alongside 34 Islamic militants, as reported by military officials on Wednesday.

The attack was sudden, with extremists employing motorcycles and armed trucks to launch an offensive against the troops. According to military spokesperson Edward Buba, the soldiers engaged the insurgents fiercely amid the onslaught.

Borno state has been the epicenter of extremist conflict in Nigeria since 2009, when the Boko Haram group initiated an insurgency aimed at imposing their interpretation of Sharia law. This violent uprising has not only claimed over 35,000 lives but has also led to the displacement of around 2.6 million residents, affecting neighboring countries in the Lake Chad area.

The recent skirmish took place on Sunday in Sabon Gari, located within the Damboa council area, an area that has seen significant depopulation due to ongoing violence. Buba noted that this particular assault appeared to be a retaliatory move by the terrorists following the deaths of their commander and several fighters at the hands of the military.

This incident reflects a worrying trend for the Nigerian armed forces, which frequently asserts that Boko Haram’s capabilities have been significantly diminished. However, ambushes and suicide attacks remain prevalent, continuing to challenge the military’s claims of progress over the past year.

Political analyst Senator Iroegbu from Abuja pointed out that the conflict’s resolution is hampered by insufficient political commitment and the extremists’ ability to operate across Nigeria’s borders. He emphasized the military’s ongoing difficulties in securing reliable intelligence regarding Boko Haram’s activities and strategies.

Boko Haram first captured global headlines in April 2014 when they kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from the village of Chibok in Borno state, with many of the victims still unaccounted for today.