Troops Recover ISWAP Notebooks Detailing Attack Plans in Borno

Nigerian troops have recovered operational notebooks from slain fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following clashes in Mallam Fatori, a town in Borno State near the border with Niger.

The documents, found on the bodies of the militants, reportedly contain lists of fighters mobilised for attacks, their designated roles, the types of weapons assigned, and the quantity of ammunition allocated to each individual.

Security analyst and researcher Brant Phillip, in a post on social media on Wednesday, noted that such meticulous record-keeping reflects a broader pattern seen in other Islamic State-affiliated groups, including IS-Somal in Puntland.

“This level of organization was also noted in Puntland in IS-Somal, the cardboard piece… discovered in an IS-Somal position, shows the same thing and also includes the cameraman, who has allocated memory cards instead of ammunition,” Phillip wrote.

He further explained that Islamic State provinces often operate like quasi-governments, maintaining their own police, military police, and administrative structures. “They’re not only an armed group but they strive to become an alternate governing entity,” he added.

The recovered notebooks are expected to provide intelligence on ISWAP’s personnel deployment, logistical arrangements, and internal communications, which could assist military efforts in countering the group’s activities in the region.

The discovery comes just days after a series of suspected suicide bombings rocked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday, March 16, 2026. The explosions occurred at several locations, including the busy Monday Market, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and a central post office junction.

Local authorities and witnesses report that at least 23 people were killed and over 100 others injured. The attacks happened during the evening as residents were breaking their fast for Ramadan, contributing to the high casualty toll.

Security forces have since increased patrols in the city and transported the wounded to medical facilities for treatment. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the bombings, but suspicion has fallen on ISWAP, which has carried out similar attacks in the past.

The military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the recovered notebooks or their potential impact on ongoing operations.