By Sabiu Abdullahi
An attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Nigerian troops in Monguno, Borno State, involved the use of armed drones, a military source has revealed.
The assault targeted soldiers under Sector 3 of Operation Hadin Kai. It led to the death of several personnel, including Colonel I.A. Mohammed. The incident followed an earlier report that troops were ambushed by fighters linked to the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram.
The soldiers had set out on a patrol mission to clear insurgents from the area after receiving intelligence reports. According to a serving Major, the attackers struck around 2 a.m. on Monday and deployed drones against the advancing convoy.
The officer explained that the drones used in the operation are similar to those seen in conflict zones such as Israel and Ukraine.
“The 242 Battalion Commander and soldiers were ambushed around 2 a.m. this morning by terrorists in Monguno Sector 3. The Commander was with some soldiers, and we don’t know the number of casualties yet,” the source said.
“They were going for reinforcement; it was drones that they used on them. The terrorists sent bombs with drones; those things shelled them. It’s very unfortunate.
“I could remember the Army explaining last year how these terrorists have been deploying weaponised drones, similar to those used in Israel and Ukraine. These drones are hard to detect with conventional radar.”
Earlier accounts had suggested that the senior officer died after an Improvised Explosive Device detonated along the route. Sources said the attack began on Sunday night and focused on a Forward Operating Base under the 242 Battalion in Monguno.
“One of our senior commanders, Colonel I.A. Muhammad, was killed last night when Boko Haram attacked Monguno. They also killed some soldiers during the attack,” a soldier on the front lines said.
Monguno serves as a key military location in the North-East. It hosts several units under the supervision of senior commanders. During the incident, insurgents reportedly concentrated their firepower on a smaller but vital position, which prompted a call for reinforcement.
“The Colonel got information that troops at the FOB were under heavy attack. As a committed commander, he mobilised to lead reinforcement to the location,” another source said.
According to the accounts, the Colonel did not reach the embattled troops. His convoy ran into an ambush along the way. Insurgents had planted a remotely controlled explosive device on the route.
“He did not die inside the camp. He was on his way to support his men when Boko Haram fighters ambushed them with a controlled landmine. It was not the type you step on; it was detonated remotely at the exact moment his vehicle approached,” the source added.
The explosion killed the Colonel on the spot. It also claimed the lives of an unspecified number of accompanying soldiers.
In 2025, a lawmaker from Borno State, Ahmed Jaha, raised concerns about the growing use of drones by insurgents. He claimed that Boko Haram fighters were deploying more advanced weapons than those available to Nigerian forces.
Nigeria has faced insurgency in the North-East for more than two decades. The latest attack highlights evolving tactics by militant groups in the region.