In recent times, the surge in attacks on military formations and the killing of high-ranking officers in the theatre of war has been alarming. The security situation in the North-East region is entering a very disturbing and devastating phase, raising fears that the progress made by Boko Haram over the years may be gradually eroding.

Suddenly, decimated terrorists have re-emerged with more advanced technologies, precision, and coordinated, unholy campaigns targeting seven field commanders. These assaults aim to demoralise soldiers and local communities. They must not be allowed to persist, which could pose a serious threat to the safety and confidence of people ahead of the 2027 General Election in the region.

However, the killing of three Brigadier Generals by untrained, uneducated and tattered Boko Haram is sickening and has implications. Firstly, the death of an officer of this rank isn’t unprecedented, but rather a colossal loss to the entire nation, considering the massive investments and experience.

Secondly, it points to ISWAP’s increased capability in rapid intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Thirdly, it underscores poor coordination between Nigeria’s military authority and counter-terrorism formations, as well as inadequate technological improvements despite increased defence spending over the past decade.

Aside from the general, in this first quarter, the armed forces have lost seven senior gallant officers between the ranks of Major and Lt Colonel to the war against insurgency in Borno state alone, and large quantities of arms and ammunition are in the custody of the outlawed groups. Alas! This is one of the reasons many residents are unhappy with Tinubu’s administration, despite the promises he made when he became President and Commander-in-Chief.

In Benesheikh, terrorists struck at approximately 12:30 on Thursday morning, shooting from different angles and burning trucks and commercial vehicles and killing motorists and passengers who had stopped for the night due to the routine evening closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano Road in Kaga local government area of Borno State.

A Brigadier General, the military’s commanding officer at Benesheikh, was killed in the attack. It is the highest-ranking officer killed since Brigadier General Uba was killed in a Borno ambush in late 2025.

What COAS need to do – Military sources

The rank of brigadier general is one of the highest in the military. A brigadier general typically commands a brigade, which consists of approximately 4,000 troops.

Unfortunately, the death of a highly celebrated and decorated officer, Brigadier General Oseni. O Braimoh, the Brigade Commander of 15 Task Force Battalion, has instilled fear in the minds of residents that this could be a return to the black days of insurgency, which clearly shows that the more you look, the less you see in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

Consequently, insider sources who spoke to Business Day said the killing of Nigeria’s Brigadier General Musa Uba, in mid-November 2025, by the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, boosted the morale of insurgents while demoralising Nigerian troops fighting insurgency after the armed forces failed to recover his remains

“I think the body of late Brigadier General Sani Muhammad Uba, who was killed by Boko Haram fighters, must and should be recovered, and a large-scale search must be conducted. This will certainly boost the morale of fighting troops.

“When he was widely regarded as one of the Nigerian Army’s most effective field commanders and a symbol of hope for troops fighting the insurgency, unfortunately, he was killed due to a failed system.

“I can’t deceive you; soldiers are not given their best due to what they have seen, since last year when Boko-Haram terrorists captured General Uba, things have not remained the same in the theatre of war,” the military source said.

The military source recalled how Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai used to visit hard-to-reach locations to boost morale and commend the soldiers.

“If terrorists are equipped with night google vision and other advanced weapons, what stopped the military from getting the new technology hardware for us? The war is changing every day, so we must be ahead of them.

“They should increase the welfare package of soldiers, too, and recruit more tech-savvy guys who would operate drones and other weapons for us.

“I believe there’s a need for COAS to visit some locations, especially front-line soldiers. The way Buratai used to boost the morale of soldiers in those days will certainly change the morale of troops fighting insurgency, “the sources suggested.

Uba was the commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

“The life of the Nigerian soldier is not valued like that. The corpse of General Ubah has not been recovered to the best of my knowledge.

“The army did not carry out retaliatory strikes on the terrorists who killed him. Now we have another general and senior officers killed at the frontline. We simply can’t be losing good men, from privates to generals, to insecurities we shouldn’t be dealing with for decades.”

Consequently, Brigadier General Zirkushu Dzarma was killed in November 2021, along with four other soldiers, when ISWAP rammed a bomb-laden car into his official vehicle.

Modern counter terrorism strategy needed – Expert

Mustapha Tijjani Usman, Chemical Security and Safety Analyst, lamented that the reduction in troop safety, driven by increasing insecurity within the country, may necessitate their reassignment to another area experiencing unrest, and urged the government to prioritise modern warfare and engage in physical contact.

“The employment would involve physical contact, combating insurgency, coupled with comprehensive training in modern counter-terrorism strategies, is of significant importance.

“The deployment of drones is anticipated to reduce the number of casualties on the battlefield. Furthermore, the government needs to improve the welfare provisions for soldiers, particularly those stationed on the front lines,” he advised.

Mustapha warned that it is vital for the government to thoroughly investigate all potential measures to ensure the supply of fuel, food, and essential daily goods, as well as to prevent the handling of materials containing components for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Killing of high-ranking officers damages the troops’ psychology – CSO

Ahmed Shehu, chairman of Civil Society Organisations in Northeast and Lake Chad, condemns in the strongest terms the recent killing of military commanders in operations against Boko Haram, noting that it has adverse effects on the troops’ morale in counter-insurgency operations.

“We must not return to those days. The government must ensure accountability for operational lapses, provide psychological and welfare support for troops, and ensure the real protection of civilians.

“These killings damage troops’ psychology. Commanders provide leadership and morale, so the loss of commanders creates fear and uncertainty, weakening discipline and operational effectiveness on the front lines,” Shehu.

According to him, every life lost to this insurgency is a tragedy, saying, “We cannot normalise bloodshed. We mourn every Nigerian lost and urge decisive action now to protect both our troops and communities.

He warned, “I fear we are seeing warning signs of the 2012-2014 period, when Boko Haram exploited gaps to escalate attacks. With commanders being killed and millions still displaced, we risk sliding back if action is not taken,” he warned.

Adopt new tactics: We are tired of losing gallant soldiers

Musa Usman Konduga, a public communication specialist, expressed concern over a dangerous trend in counterinsurgency operations in Borno State. According to him, troops should change their tactics, noting that waiting for enemies to attack and then repel them is not working.

“It seems we are now witnessing a dangerous trend in the counterinsurgency operations in Borno state. The insurgents and their collaborators have found a new trend, one that can scuttle the gains of the last couple of years. The killing of field commanders usually makes more of an impact than the foot soldiers.

“We have seen this play out in Damboa, Konduga, Banki, Kukawa and now Benisheik. The implications, if not properly handled, can be far-reaching. Killing field commanders can demoralise the men. Secondly, it also erodes people’s confidence in the military’s ability to respond to those incidents, raising questions for many who wonder how the insurgents can effectively target the commanders. Who gives them details about military camps? Are there no watchto”ers or night-vision facilities in the camps? Why is it so easy for the insurgents to overrun such camps? The questions begging for answers are many!

“Every time our gallant men are killed, we feel the deepest pain because they leave the comfort of their homes and families so that we will be secured. I have said it before; the strategy needs to be changed. Staying in camps waiting for the next attack to repel is counterproductive.

“The mobility and fluidity of the insurgents have to be matched by our soldiers. And if the government want this circle of nauseating bloodshed to end, massive investments are required in weapons, men, intelligence and technology,” Usman worried.

Zulum pledges to strengthen the resilience of troops and the local community

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has condemned the recent attack on the 15 Task Force Brigade in Benesheik in strong terms and sympathised with the armed forces over the death of the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O Braimoh and others

He vowed that the Borno State Government would build the resilience of the troops and local communities to strengthen security around the town. He therefore called on the military to review its security architecture to address emerging threats within its areas of responsibility effectively.

“This is one of the most surprising attacks that I have witnessed in recent times. There is a need for us also to review our security architecture, because credible intelligence was received that these madmen were trying to attack this place for about three days.

“I’m here to commiserate with you, especially over the death of the brigade commander. So, this is not a time to blame anyone, but we need to review the entire security architecture and then see how we shall reinforce this particular aspect.

The governor also assured the troops of the Borno state government’s continued support in protecting lives and property.

He added that his administration will take steps to strengthen the resilience of local vigilantes, security personnel, and affected communities.

He assured, “I want to assure you that we shall strengthen the resilience of the Army, strengthen the resilience of the community, and ensure that Benisheikh does not fall into the hands of Boko Haram. Again, I want you to redouble your effort.”

416 abducted victims, mostly women and children, are still in B/Haram captivity

Meanwhile, the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) said Boko Haram released the first official video of the Ngoshe women and children in captivity after diplomatic pleading and mediations by Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) after a month in captivity.

In a statement signed by Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA) said the group Is mediating for the release of their Southern Borno brothers and sisters who were abducted when insurgents overran Ngoshe.

The statements, “Following days of engagement, discussions, and humanitarian appeals, we were provided with an official figure of 416 victims currently alive in captivity by the abductors. This figure differs from earlier reports circulated by sections of the media, which underestimated the true scale of the situation.

“BOSYA remains the voice of Southern Borno youths and indigenes. As such, we are committed to continuing all possible efforts through mediation, advocacy, and engagement to secure the safe release of our people. Our actions are guided solely by the need to protect lives and restore dignity to affected families.

“We wish to state clearly and unequivocally that BOSYA does not support terrorism, insurgency, or the abduction of innocent civilians. However, as representatives of our people, we are prepared to take bold and necessary steps to pursue solutions, especially lasting ones, to the persistent insecurity affecting our region.

“The voices of the kidnapped victims must be heard not just nationally, but globally. We therefore call on the following leaders and authorities to urgently intervene: They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, Senator representing Southern Borno, Mohammed Ali Ndume and all relevant government officials and stakeholders at both federal and state levels to come to their aid in these trying moments.

“Furthermore, we call on the Nigerian Government, international partners, the United Nations, and global leaders, including Donald Trump, to support efforts toward the safe and immediate release of all abducted victims. Among them are vulnerable groups, including infants, young children, elderly individuals, and women in extremely fragile conditions.

“Let it be known to the world that BOSYA is actively mediating and advocating for the release of Southern Borno indigenes held captive. We also call on both the Nigerian Government and the Borno State Government to demonstrate visible and measurable efforts in securing their freedom,” the statement noted. (BusinessDay, excluding headline)

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