A renewed wave of violence in Nigeria’s Northeast has left senior military officers and troops dead in separate incidents within days, underscoring the continuing pressure on counterinsurgency operations in the region.
In the latest development, Colonel I.A. Mohammed, Commanding Officer of the 242 Battalion in Monguno, was killed alongside seven of his men after their vehicle struck a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a reinforcement mission late Sunday night.
The incident occurred after a Forward Operating Base (FOB) came under what military sources described as a “coordinated assault” by suspected terrorists. Although frontline troops repelled the attack, Colonel Mohammed was killed while proceeding to the location to assess the situation and boost troop morale.
Military authorities described his actions as “selfless service,” noting that he died while demonstrating the highest traditions of military leadership.
Confirming the development, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force, North East, said the Commanding Officer was moving to the troops’ position when his vehicle hit a buried explosive, killing him and six other personnel.
He added that the initial “Tango” attack on the location, identified as Charlie 13, had been successfully neutralized before the Colonel’s arrival, but the presence of hidden explosives proved fatal.
This comes just days after another major loss in Borno State, where Brigadier General Oseini Braimah, Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade, was killed alongside 17 soldiers during a fierce encounter in Benisheikh on Friday.
