Nigeria Buries Soldiers Killed in Northeast Militant Attacks Amid Ongoing Insurgency

The Nigerian army has buried soldiers killed in recent Islamist militant attacks in the northeast, including Brigadier General Omo Braimah, with full military honours. Defence Minister Christopher Musa praised their sacrifice and vowed continued operations against insurgents, while defending a controversial airstrike that Amnesty International says should be independently investigated. The attacks were carried out by Boko Haram and ISWAP amid ongoing insecurity in northern Nigeria.

The Nigerian army on Wednesday buried officers and soldiers killed in recent Islamist militant attacks in the northeast, with the ceremony held at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri under full military honours. The solemn event drew senior military officials, colleagues, and families of the deceased as they paid their final respects. Among those laid to rest was Brigadier General Omo Braimah, the most senior officer killed in the recent attacks, alongside other personnel who lost their lives during the coordinated assaults.
During the burial ceremony, Defence Minister General Christopher Gwabin Musa paid tribute to the fallen troops, describing them as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. He said the most fitting way to honour their memory was to remain committed to defeating insurgency and completing the mission for which they gave their lives. Musa emphasized that the military would continue to intensify operations against terrorist groups despite the challenges and losses faced on the battlefield.
The defence chief also addressed public concerns surrounding a recent airstrike that reportedly hit a market area where civilian casualties were alleged. He maintained that the strike was directed at a known gathering point for Boko Haram fighters and insisted that intelligence indicated the location had been restricted due to security threats. According to him, anyone found in the area was considered part of a criminal environment, a statement that has drawn mixed reactions.
Rights group Amnesty International, however, has called for an independent investigation into the incident, raising concerns over possible civilian deaths. The organization accused the military of frequently attributing civilian casualties to criminal or militant activity without transparent investigations, and urged authorities to ensure accountability and clarity in such operations.
The soldiers were killed on April 9 when suspected fighters from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched coordinated attacks on military positions along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. The attackers reportedly struck multiple locations in a well-planned assault that overwhelmed some frontline positions before reinforcements arrived.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a complex and prolonged security crisis, particularly in the northeast where insurgency has persisted for over a decade. Boko Haram, along with its splinter faction ISWAP, remains active in the region, carrying out attacks on military bases, villages, and civilian targets. In addition, another armed group linked to the Islamic State, known as Lakurawa, has been operating in parts of the northwest, particularly in border communities near Niger Republic, further complicating the country’s security challenges.