A recent security assessment has disclosed that at least 454 soldiers from Nigeria were killed in ambushes throughout the country from 2019 to 2025.

The document, titled ‘The Kill Zone’ and released by the geopolitical research organization SBM Intelligence, outlines a persistent trend of lethal ambushes primarily executed by Boko Haram, its splinter faction the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and various armed bandit factions active in the North-west, North-east, and North-central regions.

The findings indicate that most ambushes were concentrated in a limited number of states, with Borno accounting for over 60 percent of all documented incidents as ISWAP solidified its control over portions of the state and the Lake Chad region. In the North-west, assaults linked to bandit groups surged significantly from 2020, making Zamfara the epicenter of that violence and Katsina another significant area of concern.

The security situation is further complicated by cross-border activities, including those of groups associated with ISSP operating through porous borders.

According to the report, the states most severely impacted include the North-east states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, as well as the North-west states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, with additional incidents occurring in Benue, Kogi, and Niger, along with sporadic reports from southern Nigeria regions such as Abia, Delta, Imo, and Rivers.

SBM Intelligence pointed out that armed factions have evolved their strategies over the years. Beginning in 2019, insurgents increasingly began to employ IEDs, coordinated multi-phase strikes, and deceptive checkpoints. By 2023, attackers were not only targeting military patrols but also honing in on high-ranking officers and strategically vital convoys. The report highlights the use of commercial drones equipped for reconnaissance and explosive missions, indicating an escalation in operational capabilities.

“In a notable tactical shift, their operations have broadened to include isolating the Nigerian military’s “supercamps” or forward operating bases by sabotaging critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges to hinder reinforcements.

“Additionally, they have integrated explosive-laden commercial drones into their toolkit and produce high-quality propaganda videos, signaling an increase in organization and outside influence. The seriousness of this threat was vividly illustrated in November 2021 when Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu was killed in a significant ambush near Askira Uba, Borno,” the report mentioned.

Noteworthy ambushes and a focus on targeting officers

The report also indicated that the timeframe under consideration saw an uptick in attacks aimed specifically at senior military officials. Among the incidents cited is the March 2020 ambush in Goniri, Yobe, where 70 soldiers perished, marking one of the most severe single losses in recent times.

ISWAP followed this with two prominent killings: Colonel D.C. Bako in Damboa in September 2020, who was posthumously promoted, and Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State in November 2021.

This trend persisted with a 2023 bandit assault in Munya, Niger, leading to the deaths of a Major, three soldiers, and four vigilantes. In June 2025, simultaneous bandit raids in Niger and Kaduna resulted in at least 17 soldier fatalities. In November 2025, ISWAP ambushed Brigadier General Musa Uba in Damboa, signifying another significant military loss.

Brigadier General Uba’s convoy was returning from operations around the Sambisa Forest when insurgents launched an attack, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and two members of the Civilian JTF. ISWAP later released propaganda asserting that they had captured Mr. Uba alive during the ambush, interrogated him, and subsequently executed him.

Although the Nigerian Army initially refuted claims of his capture, President Bola Tinubu later confirmed Mr. Uba’s death publicly, acknowledging the increasing complexity of insurgent assaults in the region.