Military Loses Three Commanding Officers in One Week to Insurgent Attacks

By Abah Margaret

The Nigerian military has lost at least three commanding officers within one week following separate attacks by insurgents linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

The latest development brings the number of commanding officers and senior military personnel killed in recent months to at least eight, including one brigadier general, according to security sources.

Observers say the recent incidents highlight the persistent security challenges in Borno State despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

In recent months, troops have intensified operations in high-risk areas such as the Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad Basin in a bid to dismantle terrorist camps and degrade insurgent capabilities.

Military updates indicate that several insurgent commanders and fighters have been killed in operations across multiple fronts, with a number of terrorist hideouts destroyed.

According to security reports, the officers recently killed include Major U.I. Mairiga, who commanded the Mayenti Forward Operations Base; Lt-Col Umar Faruq, commander of the Kukawa base and the 101 Brigade; and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga.

Within the last three months, other commanding officers deployed in Damasak, Kukawa and Bama were also reportedly killed during separate insurgent attacks.

Latest Attack in Kukawa

The most recent attack occurred on March 9 when insurgents overran a military camp in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing the commanding officer, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and several soldiers.

Security sources said the insurgents launched the assault around midnight, attacking the town from multiple directions.

“They stormed the town and attacked the military camp. They dislodged the troops, set vehicles ablaze and carted away ammunition,” a security source said.

The spokesman of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt-Col Sani Uba, confirmed that a senior officer was killed during the attack but did not immediately disclose his identity.

Just weeks earlier, the same military base had come under attack, but troops under the command of the late Lt-Col Faruq successfully repelled the insurgents, killing several terrorists.

The earlier victory was celebrated by residents and widely shared on social media.

Other Attacks

On March 1, another commanding officer, Major Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, was killed during an attack by Boko Haram fighters on a military base in Mayenti, Bama Local Government Area.

Security sources said the officer fiercely resisted the assault before being overwhelmed.

“The unit commander gave the terrorists a tough fight but was eventually overpowered after some soldiers fled into the bush,” a source said.

The source added that the officer had been deployed to the forward operations base less than four months earlier following a special promotion.

Days later, on March 6, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion in Konduga, Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, was also killed along with several soldiers during another insurgent attack.

Personnel attached to the 21 Special Armoured Brigade were among those reportedly killed during the ambush.

Earlier incidents also include an attack on January 28 in Damasak, where insurgents ambushed a patrol team and killed seven soldiers, including their commanding officer.

In October 2025, the Nigerian Army also confirmed the death of Aliyu Saidu Paiko, commanding officer of the 202 Battalion, and other troops during a battle with Boko Haram fighters in Bama Local Government Area.

Escalation of Violence

Security sources further reported that fourteen soldiers were recently killed during a coordinated attack on a military base in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, where a senior officer also lost his life.

More than 100 civilians were reportedly abducted during the attack, forcing hundreds of residents to flee to nearby Pulka community.

Insurgents were also said to have attacked Dalwa community in Konduga Local Government Area, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, burning homes and displacing residents.

The community had only recently been resettled by the Borno State Government.

Security Expert Raises Concern

Reacting to the killings, security expert and former director at the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, described the development as alarming.

“That should be of serious concern when you consider the level of training and experience required to produce military officers,” he said.

Ejiofor noted that insurgent groups often operate outside conventional military strategies, making their attacks unpredictable.

He called for both immediate and long-term measures to address Nigeria’s security challenges, including improved intelligence gathering and the establishment of state police.

According to him, citizens also have a role to play by providing credible information to security agencies.

Despite the recent losses, he expressed optimism that security forces will eventually overcome insurgency.

“As elections approach, insurgents often intensify attacks to demonstrate their presence, but with sustained military operations, they will be defeated,” he said.