Nigeria has been thrown into another grief following the the tragic killing of Commanding Officer (CO) of 242 Battalion, Colonel I.A. Mohammed, and six gallant soldiers of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) whose lives were cut short shortly after successfully repelling a terrorist attack in Monguno, Borno State.
They were killed in an ambush as the CO was reportedly leading reinforcements to a Forward Operating Base (FOB) targeted by insurgents when their convoy was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion.
In the first week of March 2026, the Nigerian military lost three Commanding Officers (COs) in charge of Forward Operations Bases (FOB) following attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at different locations within a seven-day period. They include Major U.I. Mairiga, who headed the Mayenti base; Lt-Col Umar Faruq, Commander of the Kukawa base and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga.
On October 20, 2025, the Nigerian Army confirmed the death of Aliyu Saidu Paiko, commanding officer of the 202 Battalion, and other soldiers during an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists in Bama Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analysts in the Lake Chad Region, said in its report: “In the late hours of April 12, troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force (North East), came under an isolated infiltration attempt at Charlie 13 location. With courage and determination, the soldiers engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, eventually forcing them to flee and securing the area.
“But even in victory, tragedy struck. Driven by an unyielding sense of duty and deep concern for his men, the Commanding Officer chose to move forward, towards the very danger others would avoid, to personally assess the situation on ground. It was a decision that reflected the very essence of true leadership: to lead from the front, to share in the risks, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with his troops.
“In that moment of selfless courage, his vehicle encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), killing him and six of his men. Their loss is not just a statistic, it is a profound human tragedy.
“They were fathers, brothers, sons, and comrades. They were men who wore the nation’s uniform with pride, who stood in the face of danger so others could sleep in peace. They did not retreat when confronted with terror; instead, they stood firm, defended their ground, and ultimately gave everything.
“The silence they leave behind echoes loudly across the ranks.
“Operation HADIN KAI, in a statement by its Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, expressed deep sorrow, describing the fallen officer as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to duty. Their ultimate sacrifice, the statement noted, will forever remain etched in the memory of the Armed Forces and the nation they served with honour.
“As the country mourns these heroes, their bravery lives on not only in the victory they secured that night, but in the enduring reminder that freedom and security are often paid for with the highest price.”