Concern as Boko Haram kills three army commanding officers, dozens of soldiers in one week

Renewed attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) across Nigeria’s North-East have raised fresh concerns over the security situation in the region, following reports that as much as 100 Nigerian soldiers, including three commanding officers, were killed within one week.

The officers – who were leading troops at key forward operating bases in Borno State – were killed in separate attacks between March 1 and March 9, underscoring the increasing risks faced by soldiers battling insurgents in some of the country’s most volatile areas.

Security sources say the development reflects a troubling escalation in insurgent operations despite years of sustained military campaigns aimed at dismantling the terror groups.

Those killed include Major Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, commander of the forward operations base in Mayenti, Bama Local Government Area; Lieutenant Colonel Umar Faruq, who headed the military base in Kukawa under the 101 Brigade; and Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, commanding officer of the 222 Battalion in Konduga.

The most recent incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, March 9, when insurgents launched a coordinated assault on a military base in Kukawa Local Government Area.

Sources said heavily armed fighters stormed the town around midnight, attacking the military camp from multiple directions in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the troops stationed there.

During the attack, Lt-Col Umar Faruq and several soldiers were reportedly killed while defending the base.

“They came in from different directions and attacked the military camp. The troops were dislodged and some vehicles were set ablaze while ammunition was taken away,” a security source said.

The spokesman for the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation Hadin Kai, Lt-Col Sani Uba, confirmed that a senior officer was killed during the attack, describing him as a gallant soldier who died in the line of duty.

Ironically, the same base had come under attack weeks earlier but was successfully defended by troops under the command of the late Lt-Col Faruq, who repelled the insurgents and killed several fighters during the earlier assault.

Another commanding officer, Major Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, was killed on March 1 when Boko Haram fighters attacked the forward operations base in Mayenti, Bama Local Government Area.

A security source said the officer led a determined resistance against the attackers but was eventually overwhelmed during the assault.

“The commander fought bravely and inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists before he was overpowered,” the source said, adding that several weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns, were recovered after the battle.

Major Mairiga had reportedly been deployed to the base less than four months earlier following a special promotion.

Days later, on March 6, another senior officer, Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, was killed alongside several soldiers during an insurgent attack in Konduga.

Reports indicate that troops attached to the 21 Special Armoured Brigade were among those killed during the encounter, including a lieutenant.

The deaths of the three commanders add to a growing list of senior officers killed in the conflict. Within the last three months alone, at least seven commanding officers and a brigadier general have reportedly lost their lives during operations in the North-East.

Multiple attacks were recorded during the week across Borno State, including coordinated assaults on military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana and Marte between late Thursday night and early Friday morning.

Sources said more than 40 soldiers were killed during those attacks alone, while several others remain missing.

The insurgents also reportedly attacked military positions in Ngoshe, Banki junction along the Bama–Gwoza road, and other communities within the state.

In one of the incidents, troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade conducting clearance operations in the Sambisa Forest were ambushed by insurgents early in the morning.

Videos circulating online showed wounded soldiers receiving treatment while the bodies of some personnel killed during the ambush lay nearby.

Security sources said the soldiers had been on patrol following intelligence reports about insurgent movements in the area when the attack occurred.

Insurgent groups have also claimed responsibility for some of the attacks. A video released by ISWAP fighters reportedly showed armed militants firing weapons and setting parts of a military camp ablaze during one of the assaults.

The footage also displayed weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and motorcycles allegedly seized from Nigerian troops during the raids.

Meanwhile, the military has maintained that its forces successfully repelled several coordinated attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgents.

In a statement, Lt-Col Sani Uba said troops of Operation Hadin Kai resisted the assaults across multiple locations and received reinforcement from other ground forces and the air component of the operation.

He said although some defensive perimeters were briefly breached during the fighting, troops ultimately maintained control of the affected areas.

Security analysts say the recent wave of attacks highlights the evolving tactics of insurgent groups, who continue to launch coordinated assaults on military formations and vulnerable communities despite sustained pressure from Nigerian forces.

The insurgency in the North-East, which began more than a decade ago, has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.