The Nigerian military has lost three commanding officers in charge of forward operations bases in Borno State, following attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) within a seven-day period.
The officers killed include Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who were stationed in Mayenti, Kukawa, and Konduga, respectively.
These recent casualties bring the total number of commanding officers and one brigadier general killed in the last three months to seven.
The attacks highlight the persistent threat posed by insurgents in Borno, despite ongoing military operations aimed at degrading their capabilities.
According to security sources, the insurgents have been intensifying attacks on military bases and civilian communities, resulting in significant losses for the Nigerian military.
The military has responded with strong defensive coordination, supported by air power, and has recovered weapons and ammunition from the insurgents.
Security expert Mike Ejiofor described the killing of senior military officers as “worrying” and emphasized the need for both short- and long-term measures to address the country’s security challenges.
He suggested that citizens should volunteer credible information to security agencies and that broader reforms, including the establishment of state police, are needed.
