Boko Haram Attack Kills Nigerian Army Colonel, Soldiers in Monguno Ambush
A senior Nigerian Army officer, Colonel I.A. Muhammad, has been killed alongside several soldiers following a deadly overnight attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military formation in Monguno, Borno State.
The attack reportedly occurred on Sunday night when terrorists stormed a Forward Operating Base under the 242 Battalion, part of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
Military sources said the insurgents launched a coordinated assault targeting the base, prompting a swift response from troops stationed in the area.
According to soldiers who spoke from the frontlines, the Colonel was killed while leading a reinforcement mission to support troops under heavy attack.
One soldier said the senior officer mobilised immediately after receiving distress signals from the embattled base.
“The Colonel got information that troops at the FOB were under heavy attack. He moved to lead reinforcement, but he was killed on the way,” the source said.
Another account revealed that the officer’s convoy ran into a suspected ambush, where insurgents reportedly detonated an improvised explosive device remotely as the vehicles approached.
“He did not die inside the camp. It was an ambush on the road. The explosive was detonated as his vehicle got close,” the source added.
The attack also claimed the lives of several other soldiers, although the exact number has not been officially confirmed.
Monguno remains a key military location in the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), housing multiple battalions under Sector 3 of the counter-insurgency operation in the region.
The latest incident adds to a series of recent attacks on military formations across Borno State, raising renewed concerns about the growing sophistication of insurgent tactics, including the use of remotely detonated explosives.
Security operations in the North-East have continued to face pressure in recent months as troops battle recurring ambushes and base raids by armed groups operating in the region.
