The Commanding Officer of the 242 Battalion in Monguno, Borno State, Col. I.A. Mohammed, and six soldiers have been killed after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated during a military operation in the area.
Military authorities confirmed that the incident occurred on the night of April 12, when troops of Sector 3 under Operation HADIN KAI came under attack by insurgents at a Forward Operating Base in Monguno Local Government Area. The commanding officer was said to have been responding to a distress call from troops engaged in combat when his vehicle struck the explosive device.
According to the Military Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North East), Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the troops successfully repelled the attackers after an exchange of gunfire, forcing the insurgents to retreat.
“Regrettably, the Commanding Officer, while courageously proceeding to the troops’ location to personally assess the situation, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device which severely affected his vehicle, leading to his death alongside six other gallant personnel,” Uba said.
He described the officer’s actions as a reflection of bravery and leadership, noting that his decision to move toward the frontlines despite the risks underscored his commitment to duty and the welfare of his men.
The incident comes barely three days after another deadly attack in Borno, where a Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Oseini Braimah, and 17 soldiers were killed in an assault on a military formation in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has launched an investigation into reports of civilian casualties following an airstrike on Jilli Market, located along the border of Borno and Yobe states.
Residents and local authorities claimed that over 200 people, mostly traders and customers, were killed when multiple fighter jets bombarded the market during an operation targeting suspected insurgents.
Survivors recounted that the strike occurred during peak trading hours. Many said they initially believed the aircraft were providing security cover before explosions and gunfire erupted.
“We were conducting our normal business when we heard jets overhead. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion and gunfire. People were running, but the jets kept returning,” said Mustapha Bukar, who sustained a gunshot injury.
Another victim, Bha Bunu, said he lost his goods and suffered severe injuries, while a woman, Fatima Banah, said she lost two of her children in the attack.
At least 35 injured victims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals across Geidam, Damaturu, and Maiduguri, with fears that the death toll could rise due to the severity of injuries.
In an earlier statement, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI said the strike targeted terrorist elements and resulted in the neutralisation of several insurgents. However, following reports of civilian harm, the Nigerian Air Force said it has activated its Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell to conduct a thorough probe.
Civil society organisations and security experts have called for an independent investigation into the incident, amid concerns over the high number of reported civilian casualties.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, also disclosed that the market had previously been shut down due to its use as a hub by insurgents and their logistics networks, although some traders said activities resumed about two years ago.
Some traders confirmed that insurgents occasionally visited the market to collect levies and procure supplies, often blending with civilians.
“We are not security personnel. They come, collect taxes, and leave. We cannot stop them,” a trader said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday met with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in what sources described as a high-level briefing on the deteriorating security situation, including the recent attacks in Borno and the Jilli market airstrike.
The meeting was attended by the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, and the Inspector-General of Police, as concerns mount over renewed violence in the North-East.
