The Nigerian military has lost at least three commanding officers in charge of forward operations bases following attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at different locations within a seven-day period in Borno State.

The latest casualties bring to seven the number of commanding officers and one brigadier general reportedly killed within the last three months.

Local and security observers say the recent attacks highlight the persistent threat posed by insurgents in Borno despite ongoing military operations aimed at degrading their capabilities.

In recent months, the military has intensified operations in high-risk locations, including the Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad Basin.

Military statements indicate that scores of insurgent commanders and fighters are being killed during operations conducted across multiple fronts, with several major terrorist camps also destroyed.

According to media reports, the three commanding officers recently killed were Major U.I. Mairiga, who headed the Mayenti 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, commanding officers stationed in Damasak, Kukawa and Bama have also reportedly been killed while defending their bases.

Findings showed that most of the deaths occurred during attacks on military bases or ambushes carried out by insurgents during clearance operations.

Latest attack

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

Local and security sources said the insurgents attacked the base around 12am.

“They stormed the town from multiple directions and launched an assault on the military camp. They dislodged the troops, set vehicles ablaze and carted away ammunition,” a security source said.

“I cannot confirm the number of casualties, but sadly we also lost the commanding officer,” the source added.

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

Last month, insurgents had also attacked the military base but were repelled by troops under the command of the late Lt-Col Umar Faruq, with many terrorists reportedly killed.

His response during the earlier attack was widely commended by residents of the community and celebrated on social media.

In a video circulating online, the lawmaker representing Kukawa Local Government Area in the Borno State House of Assembly, Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, was seen celebrating the earlier victory with troops.

However, the lawmaker, who confirmed the latest attack, said calm had since been restored in other military formations in the area, although the military base was overrun.

Other attacks

On March 1, 2026, another commanding officer, Major Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, was killed when Boko Haram terrorists attacked his base in Mayenti, Bama Local Government Area.

A security source said the officer resisted the attack fiercely but was eventually overwhelmed.

“The unit commander, Major U.I. Mairiga, gave the terrorists a tough fight but was eventually overpowered after some of his soldiers fled into the bush.

“He died a brave soldier. He killed many of them before being overpowered. When I arrived as reinforcement, we recovered RPGs, anti-aircraft weapons and saw many corpses of Boko Haram fighters,” the source said.

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

The attack occurred weeks after several soldiers were killed during another assault on a military base in Jakana, Kaga Local Government Area, where terrorists reportedly burned armoured vehicles and carted away large quantities of ammunition.

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 attack by Boko Haram insurgents.

Other personnel attached to the 21 Special Armoured Brigade were reportedly killed during the ambush, including a lieutenant.

Earlier, on January 28, Boko Haram fighters attacked a military formation in Damasak, killing 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 alongside other personnel.

On October 20, 2025, the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of Aliyu Saidu Paiko, commanding officer of the 202 Battalion, and other soldiers during an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in Bama Local Government Area.

Army spokeswoman Appolonia Anele said troops attached to the 21 Special Armoured Brigade under Operation Hadin Kai had earlier resisted terrorists during an attack on October 17 in Kashimri, Bama Local Government Area.

Last Wednesday, fourteen soldiers were reportedly killed during a coordinated attack on a military base in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area. A senior military officer was also killed, while more than 100 people were abducted.

Sources said insurgents are still occupying Ngoshe town, while hundreds of residents have fled to Pulka, a neighbouring community.

On Tuesday, Boko Haram insurgents also attacked Dalwa, a community about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri in Konduga Local Government Area.

Residents were displaced and parts of the community were razed during the attack, according to sources.

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

The incident followed simultaneous attacks on four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana and Marte between 10pm on Thursday and 3am on Friday.

Officers’ killings alarming – Ex-DSS director, Ejiofor

Commenting on the killing of senior military officers, security expert and former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, described the development as worrying.

“That should be of serious concern if you consider what it takes to train military officers,” he said.

He noted that insurgents often operate outside conventional military procedures, making their attacks difficult to predict.

“They attack anywhere and in any manner. But our forces will surely overcome this,” he added.

Ejiofor said both short- and long-term measures were required to address the country’s security challenges.

“As a short-term measure, citizens should volunteer credible information to security agencies.

“In the long term, broader reforms are needed, including the establishment of state police,” he said.

He noted that establishing state police would require constitutional amendments but said the process could be completed quickly if the National Assembly showed the required commitment.

“It is one of the surest ways to defeat banditry, Boko Haram and terrorism,” he said.

He also expressed optimism that security forces are making progress in the fight against insurgency.

“As elections approach, Boko Haram tends to intensify attacks despite ongoing military operations. They often do this to demonstrate that they are still active,” he said.

He said insurgents typically target both military formations and civilians to create fear and show continued presence.

“However, with time, our military will overcome them,” he added.

Military confirms attacks

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have confirmed attacks by ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists on several military locations in Borno and Yobe states.

The attacks targeted communities including Dalwa, Goniri, Kukawa and Mainok, as well as troop positions deep inside the Sambisa Forest.

The confirmation was contained in a statement issued Monday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Lt-Col Sani Uba.

According to the statement, the coordinated attacks occurred between 10pm on March 8 and 3am on March 9, with insurgents launching assaults simultaneously from multiple directions in an attempt to overwhelm troop positions.

In Yobe, sources said the terrorists infiltrated the Goniri position in Gujba LGA of Yobe State and engaged troops in a fierce battle after breaching the defensive perimeter.

Despite the intensity of the attacks, troops resisted with strong defensive coordination while reinforcements and the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai provided timely support.

The military said the insurgents eventually withdrew after suffering heavy casualties.

Troops also recovered weapons abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, including PKT machine guns, AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade bombs, mortar bombs and assorted ammunition.

According to the military, sections of defensive perimeters at Goniri and Kukawa were briefly breached, while some structures and vehicles were damaged during the firefights.

However, the military said all the locations remain under the control of Operation Hadin Kai forces.

The statement added that troops, supported by air power, are conducting follow-up operations, including cordon-and-search missions in nearby communities where wounded terrorists are believed to be hiding.

“Regrettably, the engagements claimed the lives of some brave soldiers, including an outstanding officer in Kukawa who paid the ultimate price in defence of our nation and the protection of innocent citizens,” the statement said. (Daily Trust)

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