By Abubakar H. Muhammad (9News Nigeria, Northeast)
Suspected Boko-Haram terrorists have yet again killed another top military officer in Borno State, Colonel A.I Mohammed.
Colonel Mohammed is the commanding officer of the 242 Battalion, Monguno.
He was killed by the terrorists on Sunday after an encounter with troops of his division.
This is coming days after the killing of an army general in Benisheikh, while others were killed earlier by the terrorists.
How It Happened
It was reported that the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of Boko-Haram has launched an attack on a Forward Operating Base of the 242 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Monguno.
The attack began around 10PM, but was repelled by troops after intensed gun battle.
Following the encounter, Colonel Mohammed is said to have moved out with his men to assess the situation at the affected Forward Operation Base (FOB) under his command.
He and eight of his men, tragically ran into an ambush and multiple improvised explosive devices, (IEDs) were triggered.
According to YEN report, the attackers escalated the assault by deploying armed drones to strike the troops.
It noted that, in recent months, unidentified drones and aircraft have been observed hovering over parts of the state.
The earlier attack is believed to have been a calculated diversion aimed at drawing senior officers into a deadly trap.
The effected area, Monguno
Monguno is a major town in northern Borno, and hosts several FOBs.
Like Maiduguri, the town is home to a large military facilities like the Kinasara Cantonment, which accommodates multiple units under the command of senior officers.
The area also hosts one of the largest internally displaced persons camps in the region, with a population exceeding 100,000 people.
Army Confirms CO’s Death
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of the Commanding Officer and six soldiers in Monguno.
The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, spokesman of Operation Hadin Kai, the Joint Task Force in the North-East.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 3 under Operation Hadin Kai came under what was described as an isolated infiltration attack by suspected terrorists at a military position known as ‘Charlie 13’ in Monguno late on April 12, 2026.
The statement explained that the officer died after his vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while he was moving to assess the situation at the frontline.
Operation Hadin Kai expressed condolences over the loss and said the deceased personnel were committed members of the Armed Forces.
The military added that the incident would not deter ongoing operations against insurgent groups in the North-East.
