Fresh Boko Haram Attack Leaves Colonel, Six Soldiers Dead in Borno

Less than a week after the death of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, the Nigerian military has confirmed the killing of another senior commanding officer alongside six soldiers in a fresh terrorist ambush in Monguno, Borno State.

The incident occurred during an operation under Operation Hadin Kai, the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North-East.

According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North-East), Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops of Sector 3 came under attack in the late hours of April 12, 2026, during what was described as an isolated terrorist encounter.

The Army said the commanding officer was killed after his vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while he was moving to assess frontline troops following initial contact with insurgents.

Six soldiers also lost their lives in the attack, while several others reportedly sustained injuries. The military confirmed that the insurgents were eventually repelled and the location secured after intense exchange of fire.

“The terrorists were put to flight, with troops maintaining control of the location,” the statement said, adding that the fallen officer displayed “exceptional courage and selfless service” while responding to the battlefield situation.

Although the Army did not officially release his identity, earlier reports identified the slain officer as Colonel I.A. Muhammad.

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The latest killings have triggered nationwide outrage, with Nigerians expressing concern over the rising toll on security personnel engaged in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

Security analysts say the attack highlights the continued use of IEDs and ambush tactics by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, who remain active in remote parts of Borno despite sustained military operations.

The incident also comes amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security situation. The United States Department of State recently issued a travel advisory allowing voluntary departure of non-essential personnel from its embassy in Abuja and warning against travel to several Nigerian states due to insecurity.

The advisory cited threats including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, and communal violence in other regions. However, the Nigerian government has downplayed the warning, insisting that most parts of the country remain stable and that security challenges are being contained.

In a related development, concerns over civilian casualties have also grown following recent military operations in Borno State, including airstrikes targeting suspected insurgent positions in the Jilli axis. The Nigerian Air Force maintained that such operations are aimed at terrorist targets, though investigations into reported civilian casualties are ongoing.

The Presidency has defended ongoing military actions, arguing that some targeted locations have been used as operational hubs by insurgents, while insisting that efforts are being made to minimise civilian harm.

Meanwhile, calls are increasing for a review of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency strategy, with experts urging greater investment in intelligence, surveillance technology, and troop welfare to reduce battlefield casualties and improve operational success.

The latest attack underscores the persistent security challenges in the North-East, where military personnel continue to face deadly encounters despite years of counter-terrorism operations.

Fresh Boko Haram Attack Leaves Colonel, Six Soldiers Dead in Borno

2027: MURIC Demands Muslim Governorship Candidates in South-West

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on major political parties in Nigeria to ensure the emergence of Muslim governorship candidates in South-West states ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that parties that ignore the demand may lose support from Muslim voters.

The organisation made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, where it directly addressed leading political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and other registered parties.

MURIC specifically urged political parties to consider Muslim candidates in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo States, insisting that Muslims should not be excluded from the race for governorship positions in the South-West geopolitical zone.

The group argued that Muslims constitute a significant population in the South-West and deserve fair representation in elective offices, particularly at the governorship level. It maintained that there are qualified Muslim politicians capable of leading the affected states and contributing to good governance.

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MURIC also alleged that the current political arrangement in the South-West reflects what it described as religious imbalance, noting that governors in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States are currently Christians. According to the group, this situation highlights what it considers limited political inclusion of Muslims in top leadership positions in the region.

The organisation claimed that since the 2023 general elections, Muslims in the South-West have been largely excluded from governorship positions. In its statement, MURIC said, “Although Muslims constitute the majority in Yorubaland, the political leadership space of the region has been hijacked by Yoruba Christians since 2023.” It added that Muslims have been reduced to political spectators in key electoral outcomes, stressing the need for what it described as equitable political participation and inclusion.

MURIC further stated that none of the 17 Southern states in Nigeria currently has a Muslim governor, describing the development as politically significant. The group argued that this reality contradicts claims of religious domination narratives in Nigeria’s political space. It also dismissed allegations of Islamisation of the country, describing such claims as “false and baseless propaganda.”

The statement has added to ongoing political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially around issues of zoning arrangements, religious balance, and power-sharing agreements. Political analysts say such debates often intensify during election cycles, particularly in diverse regions like the South-West where both Islam and Christianity influence voter behaviour and party strategies. Political parties are expected to consider factors such as electoral strength, internal zoning arrangements, and demographic realities as they prepare for candidate selection.

2027: MURIC Demands Muslim Governorship Candidates in South-West

Jilli Strike: Anyone Doing Business With Terrorists Is a Target — Presidency Aide

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has defended the Nigerian military following public outrage over the recent airstrike on Jilli village market near the Borno–Yobe border, insisting that individuals engaging in transactions with terrorists may be treated as legitimate military targets.

Olusegun made the remarks in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday while responding to comments questioning whether images circulating online actually showed a functioning market. He wrote: “Anyone who is doing business with terrorists are legitimate military targets for our nation’s armed forces and not civilians.”

The statement comes amid growing controversy surrounding the air operation conducted under Operation Hadin Kai, led by the Nigerian Air Force, which targeted Jilli village in Gubio in Borno State on Saturday.

According to military authorities, the strike was carried out based on intelligence indicating that the location served as a terrorist logistics hub linked to fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The Defence Headquarters said surveillance data showed movement of motorcycles and armed vehicles believed to be converging for operational purposes.

Military spokespersons under Operation Hadin Kai maintained that the strike followed “rigorous targeting procedures” and was informed by sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in the area. They added that preliminary post-strike assessments suggested that several insurgents were neutralised and logistics assets destroyed.

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However, the operation has sparked conflicting accounts from local authorities and emergency responders. The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that civilians were among those affected, describing the incident as an accidental strike with unintended casualties.

Preliminary local reports suggested that more than 40 people may have been killed, though official figures remain unverified due to ongoing assessments and conflicting field data.

The Defence Headquarters has defended the operation, stating that Jilli and surrounding areas had long been identified as insurgent logistics corridors frequently used for movement, supply, and regrouping by armed groups. Officials also referenced past attacks on Nigerian troops in the region, including a deadly incident earlier in 2026 that reportedly killed soldiers during insurgent assaults.

The spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, said the strike was conducted after careful intelligence validation and aerial monitoring, insisting that the target area had been under surveillance due to repeated militant activity.

Despite the military’s justification, the Babagana Zulum has previously acknowledged that Jilli and surrounding locations are areas with known insurgent activity but has urged caution in military operations to avoid civilian harm and ensure proper identification of targets.

The controversy has intensified debate over civilian protection during counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, with human rights observers and local stakeholders calling for clearer rules of engagement and improved intelligence accuracy to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.

As of the time of filing this report, the military maintains that the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure, while emergency agencies continue to assess the humanitarian impact of the strike.

Jilli Strike: Anyone Doing Business With Terrorists Is a Target — Presidency Aide