Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Several Nigerian soldiers who lost their lives during recent attacks by Islamist insurgents in Borno State have been buried with full military honours at the Military Cemetery located inside Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, the headquarters of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations in the northeast. The solemn ceremony brought together senior military commanders, fellow soldiers, government representatives, religious leaders and grieving family members who gathered to honour the fallen personnel and reflect on the sacrifices made in the long-running battle against insurgent groups.
The soldiers were killed in a series of attacks carried out by militants linked to Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have intensified assaults on military positions and communities in Borno State in recent weeks. Security sources reported that militants targeted several military bases and operational locations across the state, triggering heavy fighting between insurgents and troops deployed under the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI.
The burial ceremony was conducted with full military rites, a traditional honour reserved for soldiers who die in active service. The coffins of the fallen troops, draped in the Nigerian national flag, were carried in a slow procession by fellow soldiers before being lowered into their graves at the cemetery within the Maimalari Military Cantonment. Soldiers stood in formation while buglers sounded the final military salute and prayers were offered for the deceased personnel.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, paid tribute to the courage and dedication of the fallen soldiers. He described the burial as a painful moment for the Nigerian Armed Forces but emphasised that the sacrifices made by the troops would never be forgotten.
“In the profession of arms, there are moments of victory that fill us with pride and affirm the strength, courage and unity that define our service,” he said. “Yet there are also solemn moments that weigh heavily on our hearts and remind us of the true cost of service.”
The commander noted that the soldiers had demonstrated extraordinary bravery while defending the country against insurgent threats and had made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. According to him, the Nigerian military remains determined to continue its operations against terrorist groups operating in the region.
The deaths of the soldiers are linked to recent attacks carried out by militants on military positions in Borno State. In one of the incidents, Islamist fighters attacked a military base in the Gwoza district, killing several soldiers and injuring many others after storming the position with motorcycles and heavy weapons. The attack formed part of a broader wave of assaults targeting military installations across northeastern Nigeria.
Security officials said the attacks occurred amid ongoing military offensives aimed at clearing insurgent strongholds in areas such as the Timbuktu Triangle, a vast and difficult-to-access region of Borno State that has long served as a base for Boko Haram fighters launching raids on both military targets and civilian communities.
The militants reportedly arrived in large numbers during the assaults, using motorcycles and armoured vehicles to attack military positions. In some cases, insurgents also deployed explosive-laden vehicles in attempts to breach defensive lines at army bases, causing casualties among soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, a local militia that supports the military in counter-insurgency operations.
These attacks form part of a broader pattern of escalating violence in the region, where insurgent groups have continued to mount raids on military installations and remote communities. In recent months, several military positions across towns such as Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok have come under attack during coordinated nighttime assaults by militants attempting to overrun army bases and seize weapons.
The insurgency in northeastern Nigeria began in 2009 and has since evolved into one of Africa’s most prolonged conflicts. Boko Haram and ISWAP have carried out thousands of attacks targeting civilians, security forces, schools, infrastructure and humanitarian operations. The violence has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across Nigeria and neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad region.
Despite sustained military campaigns, insurgent groups continue to exploit the vast terrain of northeastern Nigeria, including forests, desert corridors and border regions near Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Security experts say these geographic challenges allow militants to move quickly between hideouts and conduct surprise attacks on isolated military positions or rural communities.
During the burial ceremony in Maiduguri, military authorities reassured the families of the fallen soldiers that the Nigerian Armed Forces would provide support and ensure that the benefits and entitlements owed to the deceased personnel are paid promptly. Officers also pledged that the sacrifices of the soldiers would strengthen the military’s determination to defeat insurgent groups and restore peace in the region.
Representatives from the Borno State government and local communities who attended the ceremony also expressed gratitude to the troops for their service. Many described the fallen soldiers as national heroes whose sacrifices underscore the dangers faced daily by security personnel protecting civilians from extremist violence.
For the families of the deceased soldiers, the ceremony marked a moment of both grief and honour. As the final prayers were recited and the graves closed, fellow soldiers saluted their fallen comrades in silence, reaffirming the military’s commitment to continue the fight against terrorism in Nigeria’s northeast.
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