Date: March 7, 2026 l Reporter: Mensah
More than 40 Nigerian soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, have reportedly been killed in a deadly attack by Boko Haram militants in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.
According to security sources, the terrorists launched a coordinated assault on Nigerian troops in the Konduga area of Borno State, engaging soldiers in a fierce gun battle that resulted in heavy casualties on the military side.
Among those reportedly killed was Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, who died alongside several of his soldiers during the attack.
Sources familiar with the incident said that more than 40 bodies of fallen soldiers have been recovered following the assault, while several other troops are believed to be missing after the attack.
The scale of the casualties has prompted an urgent response from Nigeria’s military leadership. Reports indicate that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, traveled to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, to assess the situation and coordinate further military operations in the region.
Borno State has remained the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency since the group launched its rebellion against the Nigerian government in 2009. The jihadist group, along with its splinter faction Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continues to carry out attacks on military bases, security convoys, and civilian communities across northeastern Nigeria.
Security analysts say the latest attack highlights the persistent security challenges facing Nigeria’s armed forces despite years of military offensives aimed at dismantling insurgent networks in the region.
The Nigerian military has yet to release an official statement confirming the casualty figures as of the time of this report, while operations are ongoing to track down the militants responsible for the deadly assault.