List Of Military Commanders Killed By Terrorists So Far In 2026

No fewer than six serving military commanders and one retired Major General have been killed by terrorists in Nigeria since January 2026, as the country continues to battle worsening insecurity.

The development has deepened public concern over the rising wave of killings, kidnappings and attacks on communities, schools and security formations across parts of the country.

While civilians have continued to bear the heavy burden of the crisis, military officers and commanders involved in frontline operations have also come under deadly attacks.

Naija News reports that the latest incident involved a retired Major General, Rabe Abubakar, who reportedly died after he was abducted by terrorists in Katsina State.

The six military commanders killed so far in 2026 include:

1. Lieutenant Colonel O.C. Okolo: He was killed on February 16, 2026, when Boko Haram fighters attacked Mandaragirau community in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. He was later buried in his hometown, Obinofia Ndiuno, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, in April.
2. Major U.I. Mairiga, the commander of the Mayenti base in Borno State, was killed on March 1, 2026, by armed militants.
3. Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu: He was killed on March 6, 2026, when Boko Haram fighters attacked a battalion in the Konduga area of Borno State.
4. Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq: He was murdered on March 9, 2026, during an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in Borno State.
5. Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah: He was reportedly killed on April 9, 2026, by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
6. Colonel I.A. Mohammed: The Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 242 Battalion in Monguno, Borno State, was killed in active service on April 13, 2026.

Retired General Rabe Abubakar Dies In Captivity

The death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar has further heightened anger over the country’s security situation.

Although he was no longer in active service, Abubakar reportedly died after he was abducted by terrorists in Katsina State.

He was abducted alongside his wife on May 30 along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

Before the announcement of his death, the retired general was seen in a video with his wife, where their captors made demands.

In the four-minute, two-second video circulated on social media, the couple were seen relaying the demands of the abductors.

The widow said the abductors demanded the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru.

According to her, two of the detained persons were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.

She also appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of five local government areas to help secure their release.

In a statement on Saturday, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, announced that Abubakar had died from complications linked to diabetes and hypertension.

The announcement sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why the retired senior officer was not rescued before his death.

Several political figures also reacted, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the worsening insecurity in the country.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, described Abubakar’s death as painful and tragic.

In a statement on 𝕏, Obi said the late officer was a distinguished military officer who spent a significant part of his life defending Nigeria and protecting citizens.

“It is tragic that a man who served his fatherland with honour, rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and retired after years of meritorious service, would meet such a heartbreaking end at the hands of criminal elements,” Obi said.

“His death is a national tragedy and a sobering indictment of the insecurity that has engulfed our country.

“When traders can no longer travel safely to markets, farmers cannot access their farms, communities live under constant fear, and even retired senior military officers are not spared from the menace of kidnapping and violent crime, it becomes evident that our nation is facing a grave security emergency.”

Obi called on the Federal Government and security agencies to go beyond statements and adopt a more proactive, intelligence-led and technology-driven approach to tackling insecurity.

According to him, Nigeria must strengthen its “security architecture, improve intelligence gathering, secure our borders, equip and motivate our security personnel, and ensure that those responsible for these heinous crimes are apprehended and brought to justice.”

A former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Sam Amadi, also lamented the worsening security situation.

Amadi described the death of the retired general as sad and questioned the inability of the Nigerian state to rescue him and his wife.

He said, “Why should a retired General be held in the forest for weeks and the Nigerian state cannot rescue him and his wife?

“Where does the competence of the Tinubu government lie if it cannot rescue this retired General? This has happened too many times to become a national disaster.

“The Nigerian government is only able to do propaganda and arrest political enemies and activists.”

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, said Nigerians had become endangered in their own country due to the persistent threat of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The former Senate President, in a statement by his media aide, said insecurity had continued to escalate for more than a decade and had affected every section of society.

He called on Nigerians to unite against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and all forms of criminality threatening the peace and stability of the country.

Tinubu Vows Not To Bow To Terrorists

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued on Saturday night by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said the government would not bow to the demands of terrorists.

The President said although the terrorists had “done their worst,” the government would not release their members held by security agencies.

Tinubu warned bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state.

He said, “Bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror should now surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.

“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. And no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”