The Nigerian military has lost at least three commanding officers in charge of forward operations bases following attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) at different locations within a seven-day period in Borno State.
The latest casualties bring to seven the number of commanding officers and one brigadier general reportedly killed within the last three months.
Local and security observers say the recent attacks highlight the persistent threat posed by insurgents in Borno despite ongoing military operations aimed at degrading their capabilities.
In recent months, the military has intensified operations in high-risk locations, including the Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad Basin.
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Military statements indicate that scores of insurgent commanders and fighters are being killed during operations conducted across multiple fronts, with several major terrorist camps also destroyed.
According to media reports, the three commanding officers recently killed were Major U.I. Mairiga, who headed the Mayenti base; Lt-Col Umar Faruq, commander of the Kukawa base and the 101 Brigade; and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga.
Within the last three months, commanding officers stationed in Damasak, Kukawa and Bama have also reportedly been killed while defending their bases.
Findings showed that most of the deaths occurred during attacks on military bases or ambushes carried out by insurgents during clearance operations.
