Nigerian Army loses over 20 generals to terrorists, other non-state actors

…Military unable to protect is top ranks

Adebayo Obajemu 

The Nigerian insecurity challenge seems to have entered an unprecedented dimension with the increasing lose of Army Generals in spite of battlefield successes and decades of impressive exploits in warfare. In this year alone, the army has been killed by terrorists in sad circumstances that has exposed.the vulnerability of the military.

Two brigadier generals had been killed in combat while just recently a retired Major General was kidnapped and later killed and his body dumped. Fortunately, his wife was later rescued or released. This was followed by an attack on Nigeria’s most prestigious policy and leadership institution, the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Jos, in Plateau State, which experts believe must have been related to information from from Maj. Gen Rabe

Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and armed bandits have not relented in targeting  numerous frontline commanders, brigade commanders, and personnel in ambush and explosive device incidents.

Business Hallmark can disclose that

some of officers  who have either been killed or abducted by these daredevils,  and what resulted has been a big embarrassment to the integrity and invincibility of the military. In 2022, the terrorists invaded the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) and abducted two officers, both of whom was killed. A former Chief Air Marshal, Alex Bade was killed on his farm.

Mostly hard-hit are retired officers, who are supposed to be revelling in the  peace of retirement. They are either killed, tortured, harassed or forced to pay ransom from the little money they have left. In some cases, according to reports, they have to rely on contributions from friends and loved ones to stay alive. Below are some of the affected officers.

Major General Rabe Abubakar

Former Director of Defense Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd) and his wife were reportedly travelling to his home town from Katsina  on Saturday, May 30, 2026,  when gun toting bandits emerged from the bush and intercepted their vehicle in Matazu Local Government Area and whisked the retired officer and his wife to an unknown location.

He later died in controversial circumstances in the bush where he was being held by bandits

Maj-Gen Abubakar served as Director of Defense Information, the media arm of the Defence Headquarters, between 2015 and 2017. During his tenure, he was one of the military’s principal spokespersons and frequently briefed Nigerians on security operations across the country. .

A retired general who spoke to Business Hallmark on condition of anonymity described Abubakar “as one of most brilliant army spokespersons in recent years,” saying his loss “was a big embarrassment to the military. It’s high time the armed forces embarked on soul -searching”, he noted.

Retired Col. Adeola Balogun told Business Hallmark that “the armed forces is the pride of any nation, and if this pride is gone what is left? The military should do an internal cleansing, fish out the saboteurs and collaborators, the intelligence can fish them out.

Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga

On February 5, 2025, the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), was abducted together with nine others from his hometown in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

However, after payment of ransom by his family, his abductors still held him captive for weeks. A close family member revealed that the kidnappers had called to demand more money, which he said was not given to them. There were conflicting figures regarding the ransom paid earlier. While some claimed the sum of N60 million was paid, sources indicated that the actual money paid for his release is thrice higher than that. The retired general eventually regained his freedom after spending 56 days in the hands of kidnappers.

Between 2024 and 2025, the following officers were killed by these non state actors, who are fast becoming a State within a State: Brig. Gen. Oseni Braimah: Killed during a midnight attack in the Benisheikh area, Kaga Local Government Area, Borno State. Col. I.A. Mohammed: Killed in action in Borno State.

Col. Aliyu Saidu Paiko, commanding officer of the 202 Battalion, killed alongside other soldiers by Boko Haram fighters in Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.

Lt. Col. Umar Faruq: Died in action in Borno State. Maj. U.I. Mairiga: Killed in Borno State. Lt. Col. O.C. Okolo: Died in Borno State.

Maj. M.S Samaila, Acting Commanding Officer of the 196 Battalion, shot dead by unknown gunmen in Dundubus, Jigawa State.

Notable Casualties (2020–2024)

Brig. Gen. Dzarma Zirkusu: Commander of the 28 Task Force Brigade in Chibok, killed in an ISWAP ambush in Askira Uba, Borno State. Col. Dahiru Chiroma Bako: Commander of the 25 Taskforce, fatally wounded in an ambush by insurgents near Wajiroko town.. Lt. Col. Z. Manu: Ambushed and killed by bandits on a routine patrol in Unguwar Doka village, Faskari LGA, Katsina State.

Major General Idris Alkali

Major General Idris Alkali (rtd) was tragically abducted and killed in 2018 while travelling between Abuja and Bauchi State.

Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh

A former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (rtd), was assassinated in an ambush in December 2018. The retired military officer was returning from his farm along the Abuja-Keffi Road when gunmen rained bullets on his vehicle.

Shortly before his retirement, Badeh had led an onslaught that led to the killing of many members of the Boko Haram territory.

Major Gen. Richard Duru

Since his abduction in September 2023 till date, nothing has been heard about the whereabouts of Major Gen. Richard Duru (rtd). Duru, who later became the security adviser to the Imo State governor,  was said to have been abducted along Bishops Court, Area 7 Orji/Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state, by gunmen, who also snatched his black Mercedes-Benz GL 450 car with registration number LND 826 NG. Duru, a member of the 33rd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), was reportedly killed by the gunmen after they had collected a ransom of $50,000 from his family. Till date, his body has not been found.

Major Gen. Hassan Ahmed

Gunmen killed the former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Hassan Ahmed on July 15, 2021. He was killed by suspected insurgents when his vehicle was attacked by gunmen while travelling along the Lokoja-Abuja road. Until his death, he served as a director at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Major Gen. Joseph Aondo

On June 14, 2007, Major Gen. Joseph Aondo (rtd) was killed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He had been chairman of the political campaign group, Yar’Adua Associates. He was seized at the entrance to his house, driven five kilometres on the Kubwa expressway, and shot dead in his car.

Major Gen. Edet Akpan

A former Commandant of the Nigerian Army Education Corps and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Major Gen. Edet Akpan (rtd), was kidnapped inside a church at his village, Iwok, in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, on January 31, 2010.  He was held captive for five days and was freed on February 4.

Other Victims

Others include on November 2, 2012, former General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Mohammed Shuwa (rtd), who was also Federal Minister of Trade (1975 – 1979), was shot dead at his home in Maiduguri, Borno State, by suspected Boko Haram gunmen. He was 73.

On March 20, 2013, Major Gen. Peter Unuode (rtd), aged 67, and CEO, Bayam Security Guards Limited, was kidnapped in Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

He was blindfolded, chained to a chair, and tortured. Kidnappers had initially demanded N50million, but later reduced it to N5million.  The General was freed after three days, but the police had insisted that no ransom was paid.

On September 20, 2011, Brig. Gen. Umar Uwuigbe (rtd) was hacked to death, and his wife seriously wounded by armed men who invaded their home in Iragon village, Badagry area of Lagos State.

Police said the killers were from the Benin Republic, who were working on the General’s farmland.

In April 2012, Brig. Gen. Sylvester K. Iruh (rtd) was killed by suspected hoodlums at a ‘black spot’ near the Berger Bridge on the outskirts of Lagos. His last posting was as the Commandant, Army Records, Lokoja, and he retired in January 2009.

A three-man armed robbery gang had in June 2024, killed the national chairman of the Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces, Brig. Gen. Harold Udokwere (rtd).

The retired general was killed during an attack on his house located in the Kubusa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Col. Samaila Inusa was killed in Kaduna in March 2016. Investigation had revealed that he was likely killed the same day he was kidnapped because the body was found decomposing around Ajyaita village off Eastern Bypass Kaduna, Kaduna State.