[2][3][4] The town and the nearby naval base have been under the control by the Islamic State's West Africa Province since December 2018.

[6] In January 2015, Boko Haram attacked the town, seizing it and the military base used by a multinational force set up to fight them.

[12][14][15] Satellite imagery taken on 2 and 7 January was released by Amnesty International showing that in Baga, which is "less than two square kilometres in size, approximately 620 structures were damaged or completely destroyed by fire."

In Doron Baga (or Doro Gowon), located about 2.5 km away, fishing boats present on the 2nd were no longer visible, and "more than 3,100 structures were damaged or destroyed by fire affecting most of the 4 square kilometre town.

"[16] On 27 December, Boko Haram attacked a military base in the town of Baga, killing 10 people.