Boko Haram Ambush Kills Army Colonel, 21 Soldiers in Borno

At least 22 personnel of the Nigerian Army, including a senior officer, have been killed in an overnight ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

Sources familiar with the incident said the attack occurred in Monguno, a frontline area in Nigeria’s North-East, as troops prepared for a renewed offensive against insurgents.

The slain officer, Colonel I.A. Muhammad, was attached to the 242 Battalion alongside the affected soldiers. Borno remains the epicentre of a prolonged insurgency that has lasted over a decade.

Military authorities had yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report, although a video purportedly showing the aftermath of the attack has circulated on social media.

The latest incident underscores the continued threat posed by insurgent groups in the region. Colonel Muhammad is reported to be among several senior officers killed in recent weeks amid intensified clashes.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly pledged to strengthen Nigeria’s response to the insurgency, which began in 2009 during the administration of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The attack adds to growing concerns over security challenges in the North-East, where military operations have been ongoing for years to curb insurgent activities.