A Nigerian Army commanding officer and six soldiers have been killed in a terrorist attack in Monguno, Borno State, marking another deadly incident in the country’s troubled northeast. The military confirmed the deaths following an assault on troops under Operation HADIN KAI, with authorities saying the attack involved an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and armed confrontation with insurgents.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the commanding officer died after his vehicle struck an IED while he was moving to assess the situation on the ground. Six other soldiers were also killed in the same incident, though troops reportedly repelled the attackers and regained control of the location.
The military described the late officer’s actions as an example of bravery and leadership, saying he died while trying to personally oversee his troops during the crisis. The statement added that the armed forces deeply mourn the loss of the personnel, describing their deaths as a sacrifice in service to the nation.
The attack has triggered renewed public outrage over worsening insecurity in parts of the country. It comes less than a week after the military lost another senior officer, Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, further intensifying concerns about the rising frequency of deadly assaults on security forces.
Meanwhile, the development comes amid broader security tensions, including a recent U.S. travel advisory warning of a deteriorating situation in Nigeria and reports of military airstrikes in Borno State that allegedly caused civilian casualties, though the Nigerian Air Force maintains the operations targeted terrorist positions.
