ISWAP Attack: Identity of Army Commanding Officer Killed in Damboa Revealed 

The identity of the army commanding officer killed in the recent ISWAP attack in Damboa has been revealed, shedding light on the tragic loss suffered by the Nigerian military.

The Commanding Officer of the 149 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, who was killed in Friday’s attack by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists along with several other brave soldiers, has been identified.

Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama reported that Lt. Colonel TE Alari, the Commanding Officer, was killed in Damboa, Yobe State while leading his troops during an operation there.

In a statement posted on his X account late Saturday, Makama mentioned that Lt. Col. TE Alari, the Commanding Officer of the 149 Battalion, was leading his troops in an operation within Timbuktu Triangle — a known hotspot for terrorist activity northeast of Damboa in Yobe State — when they were attacked by ISWAP insurgents using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

The vehicle was destroyed by the troops, but tragically for them, those who perished—including the commanding officer leading from the front—were on foot and caught in the blast zone of shrapnel from the VBIED.

Though the attack was fierce, he remained steadfast in his duty, exemplifying bravery and leadership until the very end.

As of the time this report was filed, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters has not yet released a statement regarding the attack.