Insecurity: Anger, condemnation trail murder of Colonel, 6 soldiers in recent terrorists’ attack

There is anxiety among Nigerians following the heightened dimension of insecurity in the country.

DAILY POST reports that officers of the Nigerian army have become the targets of the terrorists who now attack military formations without a whimper.

Less than a week after the terrorists attacked a military base in Borno State, killing Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Commander of the 29th Task Force Brigade, more military officers have fallen into the hands of the terrorists operating mainly in Northern Nigeria.

On Monday, April 13, the military just confirmed the death of another commanding officer after a deadly attack by terrorists on their location in Monguno, Borno State.

The Army, in a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed that six soldiers also died during the attack.

Anger and outrage have trailed the killings of the security operatives, with many Nigerians calling on the governments to raise the bar on the anti-terror fight.

The statement explained that the commanding officer encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which severely affected his vehicle, leading to his death alongside six other gallant personnel.

Uba, who confirmed the sorrow of the army in losing the commander and other personnel, vowed that their service to the nation is fully appreciated.
He also confirmed that the troops have since taken full control of the location after the attack.

The statement read: “Troops of Sector 3 , Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) came under an isolated Tango terrorists’ attack on Charlie 13 location in Monguno, in the late hours of April 12, 2026.

“Following intense fire exchanges, the terrorists were put to flight, with troops maintaining control of the location.

“Regrettably, the Commanding Officer, while courageously proceeding to the troops’ location to personally assess the situation, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which severely affected his vehicle, leading to his death alongside six other gallant personnel.

“His actions, even after the immediate threat had been neutralised, reflected the highest traditions of military leadership: courage, selfless service and leading from the front. His willingness to move towards the troops in the heat of the battle, despite the prevailing danger, stands as a profound testament to his valour, sense of duty and unwavering commitment to the welfare and operational effectiveness of his men.

“Operation HADIN KAI deeply mourns the loss of this exceptional officer and the other brave personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the nation. Their sacrifice will forever remain etched in the memory of the Armed Forces and the grateful nation they served.”

While the official statement did not disclose the name of the commanding officer, earlier reports had identified him as Colonel I.A. Muhammad.

The United States Department of State had earlier issued a new travel advisory authorising the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families from the embassy in Abuja. The advisory, released on April 8, warned of a “deteriorating security situation” and places 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” classification, the highest risk category.

Newly added states include Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger and Taraba. The US cited threats ranging from insurgency in the North East to banditry in the North West and North Central, as well as persistent violence in parts of the South and South East, including oil-producing regions. The embassy in Abuja also suspended visa appointments, though its consulate in Lagos continues to provide routine and emergency services.

Reacting, the Federal Government downplayed the advisory, describing it as a routine precaution based on US internal protocols and not a reflection of the overall security situation in Nigeria. Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris said that while “isolated incidents persist, there is no general breakdown of law and order and the vast majority of the country remains stable.”

Last weekend, the Nigerian Air Force conducted an airstrike in Borno State that reportedly left over 100 civilians dead. The strike targeted suspected Boko Haram positions at Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border on Saturday.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed “precision mop-up airstrikes on identified terrorist locations” in the Jilli axis but did not acknowledge civilian casualties or explicitly confirm that a market was hit. The Presidency, however, defended the operation, arguing that the location had been compromised by insurgents.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that the market had become a “legitimate military target” after being turned into a logistics and trading hub for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.

On Tuesday, the senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was quoted as saying that insecurity would end in 2027 after the general election.

He attributed the heightened insecurity to the 2027 presidential election, insisting that those who do not want President Bola Tinubu’s reelection were the ones behind the worsening situation.

In the past, various opinions had emerged as to what could be responsible for the unending insecurity, despite the trillions of Naira that had been deployed to fight it. Such postulations ranged from political to economic and religious factors.

However, Nigerians are urging the government to fulfil its primary objective, which is the protection of lives and property of citizens.

A human rights lawyer in Lagos, James Agbaje, expressed anger and frustration at the latest development.
He noted that a situation where the terrorists are no longer afraid of the country’s military calls for not only for expression of anger and frustration but also the need for foreign help.

“Initially, it was the police that these terrorists were bold to confront. But gradually, they have now been emboldened to confront the military. They no longer wait for the military to come after them, they now take the fight to military base; a development that has led to the loss of high military personnel over time.

“This is no time to play politics. It is time for serious introspection by those at the helm of affairs. What went wrong? What is happening with our military? Where did a rag-tag army of terrorists get the courage to attack our military bases; not once, not twice but several times? How did we get here and what should we do to urgently restore the integrity of our soldiers?

“I think it’s time to invite foreign military assistance otherwise these terrorists may overrun this country.
“Look at what is happening in Kwara State, where a whole town is abandoned by its indigenes for fear of being attacked and killed by terrorists.

“Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Niger and Katsina have become killing fields with terrorists and bandits riding roughshod without let or hindrance.

“And now, it is the army that they are facing. If they can summon the courage to attack military bases, then it is time to seek foreign military assistance.”

Also speaking, a security expert, Gilbert Olugbenga, condemned the death of the military officers as a result of attacks on military bases by terrorists, describing it as the height of the insult on Nigerians by the terrorists.

He is also of the view that only foreign military assistance could salvage the situation, because according to him, the military as an institution, has been dangerously infiltrated by terrorists.

“You see, when they were giving amnesty to the so-called repentant terrorists and absorbing them into the armed forces and other security agencies, some of us kicked against it. We warned of the danger but nobody listened to us.

“Now, this is the result of that singular action. There are Boko Haram informants in the armed forces who leak important security information to the terrorists. And these are mainly those who claimed to have repented and were reintegrated into the army.

“There are also those who were never Boko Haram members but who are sympathetic to their cause. These are the people that leak important military strategy to the terrorists ahead of any major military operation.

“So, it is not as if the terrorists are stronger than our army or more equipped than our soldiers but this kind of asymmetric warfare is best fought with intelligence.

“So, unless these crops of traitors are identified and taken out, the fight against terrorism will take ages and if urgent steps are not taken, the terrorists could have an upper-hand and overrun the country. So, I also align with those calling for foreign military assistance to be able to bring this madness to an end once and for all,” he told DAILY POST.

Insecurity: Anger, condemnation trail murder of Colonel, 6 soldiers in recent terrorists’ attack