By Gata Moses
Maiduguri – A devastating attack by Boko Haram insurgents on the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte Local Government Area has left the region reeling, reigniting fears over the safety of Nigerian troops and exposing critical lapses in the nation’s counter-insurgency operations.
The assault, which occurred over the weekend, resulted in the deaths of several soldiers, the destruction of armoured vehicles, and the theft of military weapons and ammunition. Local residents reported hearing hours of heavy gunfire, and contact with the battalion was lost following the attack, intensifying concern about the fate of surviving troops.
“This is a painful moment for Marte. My hometown is bleeding,” said Kullima Ali Shettima, a local resident who confirmed the incident to TG News.
The attack is reminiscent of a similar ambush weeks earlier in Malam-Fatori, Abadam LGA, where 22 soldiers, including a commanding officer, were killed. These assaults point to a disturbing pattern of increasing operational boldness by terrorist factions in northeastern Nigeria.
Despite repeated declarations of victory over Boko Haram by Nigerian officials, the insurgency continues to claim lives and destabilize communities. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), were responsible for over 1,200 violent incidents in Nigeria in 2024 alone, with more than 3,000 fatalities, including civilians and military personnel.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that over 2.3 million people remain displaced in the northeast due to ongoing violence. In Borno State alone, 80% of IDPs are women and children, many living in overcrowded and under-resourced camps.
This latest attack has amplified public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of national security. Social media platforms are filled with hashtags like #SecureOurSoldiers and #EndTheBloodshed, as Nigerians call for transparency, reforms, and proper equipping of frontline troops.
“The soldiers are not just underpaid and underequipped—they are underprotected,” said one human rights advocate from Amnesty International Nigeria, which has previously documented abuse, neglect, and lack of welfare for military families and IDPs affected by insurgency.
Many are also asking what happened to the trillions of Naira allocated annually to the defence budget. According to BudgIT Nigeria, over ₦6.2 trillion has been spent on national security since 2019, yet attacks on both civilians and security personnel persist.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who vowed to overhaul the security architecture upon taking office, is now under renewed pressure to deliver. His administration has pledged modernization of the armed forces and better coordination among security agencies, but citizens and stakeholders say time is running out.
“There must be a shift from rhetoric to results. Nigeria’s military should not be reduced to a reactive force—it must be proactive, well-resourced, and supported by strong political will,” said an analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa).
As the nation mourns, many ask: How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken?
