Nigerian Army Colonel killed in Boko Haram ambush in Borno

A Nigerian Army Colonel, I.A. Muhammad, was killed along with other soldiers after Boko Haram insurgents ambushed his convoy with a remotely detonated explosive while he led reinforcements to a besieged military base in Monguno, Borno State.

VIA SAHARA REPORTERS:

A serving Nigerian Army Colonel, identified as Colonel I.A. Muhammad, has been killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents following a coordinated overnight attack on a military formation in Monguno, Borno State.

Soldiers currently deployed in the North-East battlefield disclosed the incident to SaharaReporters on Monday morning, recounting how the senior officer was killed while leading a reinforcement mission to repel terrorists.

According to the sources, the insurgents launched an attack on Sunday night, targeting a Forward Operating Base (FOB) under the 242 Battalion in Mungunu, which falls under Sector 3 of the military’s counter-insurgency operations.

“One of our senior commanders, Colonel I.A. Muhammad, was killed last night when Boko Haram attacked Monguno. They also killed some soldiers during the attack,” a soldier on the front lines told SaharaReporters.

Monguno is a strategic military hub hosting a large camp with multiple sub-units, including battalions led by Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, under the supervision of a sector commander, a General Officer Commanding.

Sources explained that during the attack, insurgents focused their assault on a smaller but critical military position, the FOB, prompting an urgent call for reinforcement.

“The Colonel got information that troops at the FOB were under heavy attack. As a committed commander, he mobilised to lead reinforcement to the location,” another source said.

However, tragedy struck before he could reach the embattled troops.

SaharaReporters gathered that while advancing towards the frontline, the Colonel’s convoy drove into a deadly ambush laid by the insurgents, who had planted a remotely detonated explosive device along the route.

“He did not die inside the camp. He was on his way to support his men when Boko Haram fighters ambushed them with a controlled landmine. It was not the type you step on; it was detonated remotely at the exact moment his vehicle approached,” the source added.

The explosion reportedly killed the Colonel instantly, alongside a yet-to-be-confirmed number of soldiers accompanying him.

The attack highlights the increasing use of sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by Boko Haram fighters, raising fresh concerns about the safety of military personnel operating in the region.

This comes a few days after terrorists attacked a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, killing an unspecified number of soldiers, including a Brig. Gen., Oseni Braimah. The attack happened on April 9, 2026.

On March 9, 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq and some other soldiers were killed when insurgents overran a military base in the Kukawa LGA of Borno State.

On March 6, 2026, during multiple military attacks in the state, terrorists killed Lieutenant Colonel, S.I. Iliyasu, the commanding officer of the 222 Battalion.

On March 1, 2026, terrorists also attacked a military formation in Mayenti, Bama LGA, killing Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, the commanding officer, and
several other soldiers.