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NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.
The late army commander
Boko Haram terrorists have killed a Forward Operations Base (FOB) commander, a Major, three soldiers and a hunter during a deadly attack on a military position in Mayanti, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources confirmed to Daily Trust that the personnel were killed during a coordinated night assault on the forward base on Sunday.
According to a source, the unit commander, identified as Major IU Mairiga, put up a fierce resistance against the insurgents but was eventually overpowered after some of his men reportedly retreated into the bush.
“The unit commander gave the terrorists a good fight, but he was overwhelmed after some soldiers fled. He died a brave soldier and neutralised many of them before he was overpowered,” the source said.
He added that upon arrival with reinforcements, troops recovered Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), anti-aircraft weapons and PKT machine guns, while several terrorist corpses were sighted at the scene.
“If not for the withdrawal of some of his men, he would have successfully repelled the attack,” he said.
The source disclosed that the slain Major had been deployed to the FOB less than four months ago following a special promotion.
Three civilians engaged in reconstruction work in the village were reportedly wounded in the crossfire, while military vehicles and equipment at the base were set ablaze by the attackers.
Meanwhile, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) said they killed scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during failed attacks on Mayanti, Gajigana and Gajiram communities.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said troops repelled coordinated assaults launched between February 28 and March 1, 2026, recovering heavy weapons and ammunition.
He confirmed that one officer paid the supreme price, while several terrorists were neutralised and significant combat equipment was seized.
Uba added that troops have sustained offensive operations across Sector II, destroying terrorist logistics structures, arresting two ISWAP logistics suppliers and recovering arms, ammunition and medical supplies.
He stressed that all affected locations remain firmly under military control, noting that the scale of recoveries reflects the degrading combat capacity of insurgent elements. (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)
