Troops of Sector 3 under the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, successfully repelled an attempted infiltration by insurgents at a military position in Monguno, Borno State, before suffering heavy casualties in a separate improvised explosive device (IED) blast shortly afterward, military authorities said.
The incident occurred late on April 12, 2026, at a location identified as Charlie 13.
According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the troops came under attack from insurgents attempting to breach a forward defensive position.
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“The fierce exchange of gunfire followed, during which the troops successfully overpowered the attackers, forcing them to retreat and securing the area,” Uba said.
However, he confirmed that tragedy struck shortly after the engagement when the commanding officer, who had moved toward the frontline to assess the situation and boost troop morale, drove into an IED.
“The explosion severely damaged his vehicle, killing him and six other personnel,” he added.
Separate accounts from military sources identified the senior officer as Colonel I.A. Muhammad, who was reportedly leading reinforcement efforts toward a forward operating base under the 242 Battalion when the ambush occurred.
According to frontline soldiers, insurgents had planted a remotely detonated explosive device along the route used by the reinforcement convoy.
“He was on his way to support his men when the vehicle was hit by a controlled explosion,” one soldier said.
The attack underscores the continued use of sophisticated IED tactics by insurgent groups operating in the North-East, even after conventional assaults on military positions are repelled.
Monguno remains a strategic military hub hosting multiple formations under Sector 3 of Operation HADIN KAI.
The latest attack comes amid a renewed wave of violence in Borno State, following recent assaults on military formations in Benisheikh, Kukawa, Bama, and other areas that resulted in the deaths of 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.
Military authorities described the fallen commander as a courageous leader whose actions reflected “selfless service and exceptional bravery.”
The Joint Task Force expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing counterinsurgency operations aimed at restoring stability in the region.
While the immediate attack was repelled, officials acknowledged that the incident highlights the persistent threat posed by roadside and remotely detonated explosive devices in the theatre of operations.
Meanwhile, separate concerns have emerged from frontline troops over delayed payments of the Scarce Skills Allowance, a welfare package approved by the Federal Government in 2017.
Some soldiers, speaking anonymously, alleged irregular payment of the allowance, claiming delays have persisted in recent months and affected morale in active combat zones.
Military authorities have not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
