At least 22 personnel of the Nigerian Army, including a senior officer, have been killed in a deadly overnight ambush by suspected Boko Haram fighters in Borno State.
Military and local security sources said the attack occurred in Monguno, a frontline community in Nigeria’s North-East, where troops were reportedly mobilising for a renewed offensive against insurgent positions when they came under heavy attack.
Among the dead is Colonel I.A. Muhammad, attached to the 242 Battalion, alongside 21 other soldiers deployed in the area. The incident is one of the latest in a series of deadly confrontations in a region that has remained the epicentre of Nigeria’s insurgency for more than a decade.
Eyewitness accounts and unverified footage circulating on social media suggest the ambush was sudden and highly coordinated, leaving significant casualties before reinforcement could arrive.
As of press time, the Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The attack adds to growing concerns over the resurgence of insurgent activity in parts of the North-East, where military operations have continued in an effort to contain Boko Haram and affiliated groups.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly pledged to strengthen Nigeria’s security response and sustain counterinsurgency operations, but the latest killings highlight the continuing risks faced by troops on the frontline.
Further details are expected as military authorities assess the situation and release an official briefing.
Boko Haram Ambush in Borno Kills Colonel, 21 Soldiers in Overnight Attack
