Three senior Nigerian Army officers have been killed by terrorist groups between 2021 and this week, underscoring the ongoing security crisis in the country’s northeast.
In November 2021, Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkushu was killed in an ambush by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State. In November 2024, Brigadier-General Musa Uba died in a similar attack in the same state. On Thursday, Boko Haram fighters killed Brigadier-General O. Braimah, Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade, along with several soldiers.
The deaths have drawn strong criticism from social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, known online as Verydarkman. In a Facebook video, he called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, arguing that the security situation has worsened under his leadership.
“From 2021 till now, we have lost three Brigadier-Generals trying to protect our lives,” he said. “Every year, Boko Haram gets more strength. Nigerians are in a big mess.”
He cited reports of displaced populations in Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, and Borno states, with some communities abandoning homes due to insecurity. He accused the government of issuing only press statements after attacks, rather than providing effective solutions.
“President Bola Tinubu attacked Goodluck Jonathan over insecurity, and it has gotten worse since he came,” he added. “You don’t even need any campaign for 2027—you have done four years already and there is no solution.”
The Nigerian military has faced persistent challenges from both ISWAP and Boko Haram, despite years of counterinsurgency operations. Analysts note that the groups continue to launch deadly attacks on military positions and civilians, often in remote areas with difficult terrain.
The government has not yet issued an official response to the latest killings or the public criticism.
