By Palang Paul
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a commanding officer and six other soldiers following a terrorist attack on a military formation in Monguno area of Borno State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, said troops under Sector 3 came under what he described as an “isolated infiltration attack” at the Charlie 13 location late on Sunday, April 12.
According to the army, suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched the attack, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. Troops were able to repel the attackers and retain control of the military position.
However, the army disclosed that the commanding officer, identified as Colonel I.A. Mohammed, and six other personnel lost their lives during the incident.
Uba explained that the officer was en route to the frontline to personally assess the situation when his vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), resulting in the fatalities.
“Regrettably, the Commanding Officer, while courageously proceeding to the troops’ location to assess the situation, encountered an IED which severely affected his vehicle, leading to his death alongside six other gallant personnel,” the statement said.
The army described the fallen soldiers as courageous and committed, noting that the late officer demonstrated exceptional leadership and bravery by leading from the front.
The incident marks another major loss for the military, coming just days after the killing of a senior officer in a separate attack in the North-East region.
Operation Hadin Kai expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, reaffirming its commitment to ongoing operations against insurgent groups in the region.
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