By Emmanuel Ntekim
Fresh waves of concern have gripped Nigeria’s North-East following reports that insurgents killed a Nigerian Army Colonel and six soldiers during a deadly overnight ambush in Monguno, Borno State.
The fallen senior officer, identified as Colonel I.A. Mohammed, reportedly died while moving to assess his troops after terrorists launched an assault on the “Charlie 13” military location late Sunday night. Military sources confirmed that his vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing him and six other soldiers instantly.
Troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled the primary attack after an intense firefight, forcing the insurgents to retreat. Despite the ambush, the formation remains under firm military control.
This latest tragedy comes less than a week after the death of Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah in Benisheikh, Borno.
The back-to-back loss of high-ranking officers highlights a renewed and lethal ferocity from terrorist groups operating within the Lake Chad region.
Security analysts have linked this surge in violence to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The Boko Haram splinter faction has intensified coordinated raids on military outposts since the start of the year, pivoting toward more sophisticated hit-and-run tactics.
“The repeated loss of senior officers raises serious concerns over the evolving tactics of insurgents and the vulnerability of frontline formations,” noted one regional security expert.
The attack is expected to mount significant pressure on military leadership and the Federal Government as security forces struggle to dismantle entrenched terrorist enclaves across Borno and the wider North-East.
