.As FG warns security personnel against diversion of official arms, ammunition
.Lawan mourns death of civilians in airstrike at Jilli market, demands thorough investigation
. Tinubu, security chiefs, in closed-door session
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Troops of Sector 3 , Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) came under an isolated Tango terrorist attack on Charlie 13 location in Monguno, in the late hours of 12 April 2026.
Following intense fire exchanges, the terrorists were put to flight, with troops maintaining control of the location.
Regrettably, the Commanding Officer, while courageously proceeding to the troops’ location to personally assess the situation, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which severely affected his vehicle, leading to his death alongside 6 other gallant personnel.
His actions, even after the immediate threat had been neutralised, reflected the highest traditions of military leadership; courage, selfless service, and leading from the front.
His willingness to move towards the troops in the heat of the battle, despite the prevailing danger, stands as a profound testament to his valour, sense of duty, and unwavering commitment to the welfare and operational effectiveness of his men.
This was contained in the statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba.
Operation HADIN KAI deeply mourns the loss of this exceptional officer and the other brave personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.
Their sacrifice will forever remain etched in the memory of the Armed Forces and the grateful nation they served.
The attack was swiftly repelled by troops in less than an hour
and it was believed to have been a calculated attempt aimed at drawing senior officers into a deadly trap.
The commanding officer Col
Mohammed was killed in the attack along side 6 other soldiers in the ambush.
The combined attack resulted in the death of the commanding officer, Colonel Al Mohammed, along with six other soldiers.
Another source noted that, in recent months, unidentified drones and aircraft have been observed hovering over parts of the state.
A security analyst warned that the insurgents are becoming increasingly sophisticated and may be benefiting from external support.
The Nigerian military has previously raised concerns about the use of advanced armed drones by terrorist groups in the region.
There are growing calls for the Federal Government to urgently equip the military with comparable advanced technology to counter the evolving threat.
Meanwhile, The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW) has warned against the diversion of officially procured weapons.
The National Coordinator of the centre, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, gave the warning at the inauguration of a capacity development programme on Arms Physical Security and Stockpile Management for arms-bearing security agencies in Abuja on Monday.
Kokumo said lapses in weapons management continued to undermine national security efforts, stressing that weak control systems had created dangerous vulnerabilities in armoury oversight.
He said assessments indicated that a significant proportion of illegal arms in circulation may have originated from official stockpiles over time, raising concerns over internal leakage points.
“A significant portion of illegal arms in circulation today passed through official channels at some point,” he said.
Kokumo noted that while security agencies had intensified efforts against illicit arms proliferation, weaknesses in stockpile management remained a persistent challenge requiring urgent reform.
According to him, weapons in official custody must be properly secured, documented and strictly monitored to prevent diversion to criminal and armed groups.
He warned that any leakage from official inventories not only fueled criminality but also complicated counter-terrorism and internal security operations nationwide.
According to him, weapons issued to official armouries must be prevented from slipping into the hands of enemies of the state.
“If we fail to properly account for these weapons, we are indirectly empowering criminal networks and terrorist groups operating within and outside our borders.
“There must be deliberate efforts to secure and account for all official weapons inventories across the services,” he stressed.
Kokumo identified poor record-keeping, weak oversight and inadequate storage systems as key gaps that must be urgently addressed.
He said the centre was collaborating with national and international partners to strengthen audit systems, enhance stockpile security and improve compliance frameworks across security agencies.
“Our goal is to ensure accountability, transparency and effective control of weapons within government custody.
“Securing official weapons is not optional; it is a critical component of national security architecture,” he said.
He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to curbing illicit arms flow and strengthening institutional control mechanisms to reduce diversion risks.
Also speaking, Mr Jacob Nyaga, Operations Manager, Halo Trust, said the programme was organised in collaboration with NCCSLAW and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Nyaga said the initiative was aimed at equipping personnel with modern skills for effective armoury management and prevention of weapon diversion.
He said the training would run in three phases, beginning with armoury stock keepers across participating security agencies.
According to him, the first phase will focus on practical skills in handling, documentation and accountability of weapons and ammunition.
“The second phase will address leadership-level stockpile management, including risk assessment and identification of operational gaps.”
Nyaga added that the final phase would adopt a train-the-trainer model to sustain institutional capacity within security agencies.
“In this phase, participants will learn how to develop training curricula, instructional materials and training management plans,” he said.
He noted that the programme was not an indication of capacity gaps, but an effort to strengthen and optimise existing systems.
He expressed optimism that the initiative would enable agencies to sustain internal capacity-building without external dependence.
In another development, disturbed by the loss of lives of defenceless inhabitants of Jilli Futchimiram in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, where a military airstrike, targeting suspected Boko Haram insurgents, struck and killed civilian residents, former President of the Senate,Senator Ahmad Lawan has called for full investigation into the circumstances leading to the catastrophic loss of lives.
According to eyewitness accounts, multiple military jets took part in the operation, and the strike hit a local market, leaving over 100 people feared dead and dozens more injured.
In a statement he signed himself and made available to Journalists, the former Senate President noted, that “Medical sources at Geidam General Hospital have confirmed receiving at least 35 severely injured victims, with fears that the casualty count may still rise.
“While I fully appreciate the enormous sacrifices of our armed forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, and the difficulty of distinguishing combatants from civilians in complex environments, the reported scale of this tragedy demands that we pause and ask hard questions.
“Without prejudice to the integrity of our military, I believe the victims, largely innocent civilians going about their daily livelihoods at a local market, deserve a full, transparent, and independent inquiry.
Their families deserve answers and justice.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Yobe State Government, the people of Geidam LGA and the entire Yobe State.
My prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. Amen.”
Lawan who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence cautioned ,”We must never allow the fight against terror to desensitize us to the sanctity of innocent life.
I urge the Federal Government and military high command to immediately facilitate unhindered access for investigators, ensure medical care for survivors, and provide compensation to the families of victims.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu yesterday held a security meeting with service chiefs, intelligence heads and the Inspector-General of Police.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting is coming amid the escalation of attacks on military formations in parts of the country by terrorists.
Present at the closed-door meeting include the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser, Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Staff, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, and the Inspector-General of Police.
At the time of filing this report, details of the meeting had not been confirmed.
