At lease six serving military commanders and one retired Major General have been k!lled by terrorists in Nigeria since January 2026, as the country continues to battle worsening insecurity.
The development has deepened public concern over the rising wave of k!llings, kidnappings and attacks on communities, schools and security formations across parts of the country.
While civilians have continued to bear the heavy burden of the crisis, military officers and commanders involved in frontline operations have also come under deadly attacks.
The latest incident involved a retired Major General, Rabe Abubakar, who reportedly died after he was abducted by terrorists in Katsina State.
The six military commanders k!lled so far in 2026 include:
1. Lieutenant Colonel O.C. Okolo: He was killed on February 16, 2026, when Boko Haram fighters attacked Mandaragirau community in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. He was later buried in his hometown, Obinofia Ndiuno, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, in April.
2. Major U.I. Mairiga, the commander of the Mayenti base in Borno State, was killed on March 1, 2026, by armed militants.
3. Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu: He was killed on March 6, 2026, when Boko Haram fighters attacked a battalion in the Konduga area of Borno State.
4. Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq: He was mürdered on March 9, 2026, during an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Borno State.
5. Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah: He was reportedly k!lled on April 9, 2026, by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
6. Colonel I.A. Mohammed: The Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 242 Battalion in Monguno, Borno State, was k!lled in active service on April 13, 2026.
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