A senior Nigerian Army officer, recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, is among the soldiers reported killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State. The attack reportedly occurred on Monday, January 26, 2026, as troops were moving from Maiduguri to Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area.
Military sources said the attackers allegedly used explosives and heavy gunfire against the moving convoy. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed, who was leading the unit, had reportedly mobilised his men for a surveillance mission after receiving intelligence about insurgent activity in the area.
The bodies of the fallen soldiers were said to have been taken to the 7 Division Hospital. Several others were reported seriously injured, while an unspecified number of personnel remain missing following the attack.
Sources also claimed that the slain commander’s mobile phone was taken by the attackers. When senior officers later tried to reach the number, the call was reportedly answered by individuals identified as Boko Haram members.
Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have waged a long-running insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, leading to thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.
