The Nigerian army has had both successes and setbacks in its struggle against insurgency, particularly Boko Haram, a terrorist group that emerged in 2009. The Nigerian Army and the terrorist group Boko Haram have engaged in several attacks, battles, and confrontations.
Mohammed Yusuf, the head of Boko Haram, was killed in one of the deadly skirmishes on July 30, 2009. The killing of Mohammed Yusuf is said to have exacerbated the war between the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram.
Despite a significant offensive attack launched against the country in 2013, terrorism continues to spread, heightening tensions in northern regions such as Yobe, Adamawa, and Katsina.
However, Nigerian soldiers are refusing to back down. They are fiercely combating the insurgency. For years, the military has been working to counteract and eliminate insecurity. This endeavor, while beneficial, has cost some courageous men their lives while combating the insurgents.
As Nigeria commemorates the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, WITHIN NIGERIA expresses condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of all soldiers who have perished in the military.
In recognition of their sacrifices, WITHIN NIGERIA reviews how some senior military officers have sacrificed their lives to insurgency in the last ten years.
Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu
He was a Brigadier General. He was killed in an ambush by ISWAP terrorists on November 13, 2021, along Chibok road in Borno State.
According to report, his convoy was ambushed while providing reinforcement to troops under attack.
“A bomb-laddened car reportedly rammed into his official vehicle. It killed him and three other soldiers, a credible source revealed.
The ambush was reportedly a reprisal attack by ISWAP fighters, who were angered by a recent Nigerian military raid on their camp, which killed several of their top commanders.
Brigadier-General Musa Uba
He was also a Brigadier General. He was also killed by ISWAP terrorists in an ambush along the Damboa-Biu axis in Borno State.
He was captured alive, interrogated and killed in a cold blood. He was executed. He was the commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade.
He had participated in a successful joint air-ground offensive against insurgents before being ambushed. The terrorists tracked his location after he made a phone call, leading to his capture and death.
Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko
He was the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion. He was killed in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists on October 17, 2025, in the Kashimri area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, while on a clearance operation under Operation Hadin Kai.
He was engaged in a fierce gunfight with the insurgents, and several other soldiers were also killed in the attack.
MUNYA ATTACK?
A group of soldiers were ambushed and killed by Boko Haram members in Munya, Borno. They (terrorists) targeted a truck loaded with soldiers with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and incinerated the vehicle, killing all on board.
According to reports, at least 70 soldiers were killed in the ambush, with some soldiers injured and others taken captive by the jihadists.
JAKANA ATTACK?
Boko Haram fighters ambushed and killed a colonel, captain, and four soldiers on the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road near Jakana community in Borno State.
The terrorists attacked soldiers at a checkpoint, bombarding their formation and killing some of them.
MALAM-FATORI ATTACK?
ISWAP fighters attacked a remote army base in Malam-Fatori, Borno State. The incident which occured in January 2025, was a surprise attack launched by ISWAP fighters who arrived on gun trucks on the Nigerian Army’s 149th Battalion.
The soldiers were taken off guard, and the attack lasted for over three hours, resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers, including the commanding officer, a lieutenant colonel.
According to a surviving soldier, the troops tried to repel the attack but were overpowered by the insurgents.
The attackers also burned buildings, forcing some residents to flee the town. ISWAP, is believed to have split from Boko Haram in 2016 and has been operating in the region, targeting security forces and civilians