The Nigerian military has suffered the loss of at least three commanding officers overseeing forward operations bases due to assaults by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at various sites within a week in Borno State.
These recent fatalities increase the total number of commanding officers and one brigadier general reportedly killed in the past three months to seven.
Local and security analysts indicate that these recent assaults underscore the ongoing threat posed by insurgents in Borno, despite the military's continuous efforts to diminish their strength.
In recent times, the military has ramped up operations in high-risk areas, such as the Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, the Mandara Mountains, and the Lake Chad Basin.
Military reports suggest that numerous insurgent leaders and fighters have been eliminated during operations conducted on various fronts, with several significant terrorist camps also being dismantled.
Media sources have identified the three commanding officers killed recently as Major U.I. Mairiga, who led the Mayenti base; Lt-Col Umar Faruq, commander of the Kukawa base and the 101 Brigade; and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who was stationed in Konduga.
In the last three months, commanding officers based in Damasak, Kukawa, and Bama have also reportedly lost their lives while defending their posts.
Investigations revealed that most fatalities occurred during assaults on military bases or ambushes executed by insurgents during clearance missions.
The latest incident took place on Monday, March 9, when insurgents overwhelmed a military camp in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno, resulting in the death of commanding officer Lt-Col Umar Faruq and several soldiers.
Local and security sources reported that the insurgents attacked the base around midnight.
"They invaded the town from several directions and launched an offensive on the military camp. They forced the troops to retreat, set vehicles on fire, and stole ammunition," a security source stated.
"I cannot verify the casualty figures, but unfortunately, we also lost the commanding officer," the source mentioned.
Lt-Col Sani Uba, the spokesperson for the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, confirmed that a brave officer was killed in the assault, though he did not reveal his name.
Last month, insurgents attacked the military base but were successfully repelled by troops led by the late Lt-Col Umar Faruq, with many terrorists reportedly eliminated.
His actions during the previous attack received widespread praise from local residents and were celebrated on social media.
In a video that has been shared online, Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, the lawmaker for Kukawa Local Government Area in the Borno State House of Assembly, was seen commemorating the earlier victory with the troops.
However, the lawmaker, who confirmed the recent attack, stated that calm had been restored in other military installations in the region, despite the military base being overrun.
On March 1, 2026, another commanding officer, Major Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, was killed when Boko Haram terrorists assaulted his base in Mayenti, Bama Local Government Area.
A security source reported that the officer fought back valiantly but was ultimately overwhelmed.
"The unit commander, Major U.I. Mairiga, put up a strong resistance against the terrorists but was eventually overpowered after some of his soldiers fled into the bush.
"He died a courageous soldier, taking down many of them before being overrun. When I arrived as backup, we found RPGs, anti-aircraft weapons, and numerous corpses of Boko Haram fighters," the source stated.
The source also noted that the officer had been assigned to the forward operations base less than four months prior after receiving a special promotion.
The attack came weeks after several soldiers were killed in another assault on a military base in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area, where terrorists reportedly set fire to armored vehicles and stole large amounts of ammunition.
On March 6, Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion in Konduga, was killed along with several soldiers during another Boko Haram attack.
Other personnel from the 21 Special Armoured Brigade were also reportedly killed in the ambush, including a lieutenant.
Earlier, on January 28, Boko Haram fighters attacked a military formation in Damasak, resulting in the deaths of seven soldiers, including the commanding officer, during an ambush near the town.
The terrorists reportedly ambushed a patrol team, capturing the officer before executing him and other personnel.
On October 20, 2025, the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of Aliyu Saidu Paiko, the commanding officer of the 202 Battalion, along with other soldiers during a confrontation with Boko Haram terrorists in Bama Local Government Area.
Army spokesperson Appolonia Anele stated that troops from the 21 Special Armoured Brigade under Operation Hadin Kai had previously resisted terrorists during an attack on October 17 in Kashimri, Bama Local Government Area.
Last Wednesday, fourteen soldiers were reportedly killed in a coordinated attack on a military base in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area. A senior military officer was also killed, and over 100 individuals were abducted.
According to sources, insurgents continue to occupy Ngoshe town, prompting hundreds of residents to flee to the nearby community of Pulka.
On Tuesday, Boko Haram insurgents launched an attack on Dalwa, a community located approximately 20 kilometers from Maiduguri in the Konduga Local Government Area.
Reports indicate that residents were displaced and parts of the community were destroyed during the assault, which occurred shortly after the Borno State Government had recently resettled the area.
This incident followed simultaneous attacks on four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte between 10 PM on Thursday and 3 AM on Friday.
Security expert and former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, expressed concern over the killing of senior military officers, stating, "This should be a serious concern considering the training required for military personnel."
He pointed out that insurgents often operate outside standard military protocols, making their attacks unpredictable.
"They can strike anywhere and in any way. However, our forces will ultimately prevail," he remarked.
Ejiofor emphasized the need for both immediate and long-term strategies to tackle the nation’s security issues.
"In the short term, citizens should provide reliable information to security agencies. For the long term, comprehensive reforms are necessary, including the creation of state police," he stated.
He acknowledged that establishing state police would necessitate constitutional amendments but believed the process could be expedited if the National Assembly was committed.
"This is one of the most effective ways to combat banditry, Boko Haram, and terrorism," he added.
Ejiofor also expressed hope that security forces are making headway in the fight against insurgency.
"As elections draw near, Boko Haram tends to escalate their attacks despite ongoing military efforts, often to showcase their continued activity," he noted.
He explained that insurgents typically target military installations and civilians to instill fear and assert their presence.
"Nevertheless, over time, our military will prevail against them," he concluded.
Troops from Operation Hadin Kai have confirmed assaults by ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists on various military sites in Borno and Yobe states.
The attacks affected communities such as Dalwa, Goniri, Kukawa, and Mainok, as well as troop positions deep within the Sambisa Forest.
This confirmation was included in a statement released on Monday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Lt-Col Sani Uba.
The statement detailed that the coordinated attacks took place between 10 PM on March 8 and 3 AM on March 9, with insurgents launching simultaneous assaults from multiple directions in an effort to overwhelm troop defenses.
In Yobe, sources reported that the terrorists breached the Goniri position in Gujba LGA and engaged troops in a fierce battle after penetrating the defensive perimeter.
Despite the ferocity of the attacks, troops maintained strong defensive coordination, with reinforcements and the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai providing timely assistance.
The military reported that the insurgents eventually retreated after incurring heavy losses. Troops also recovered weapons left behind by the fleeing terrorists, including PKT machine guns, AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, mortar bombs, and various ammunition.
The military noted that sections of the defensive perimeters at Goniri and Kukawa were briefly breached, and some structures and vehicles sustained damage during the clashes.
However, they confirmed that all locations remain under the control of Operation Hadin Kai forces.
The statement further mentioned that troops, supported by air power, are conducting follow-up operations, including cordon-and-search missions in nearby areas where wounded terrorists are believed to be hiding.
"Unfortunately, the engagements resulted in the loss of some brave soldiers, including a distinguished officer in Kukawa who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation and the protection of innocent civilians," the statement concluded.
(Source: Daily Trust)
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