Terrorist Attacks in Borno: A National Shame – Security Chiefs Must Resign Immediately
By Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu Northern Bureau Chief
May 13, 2025
Nigeria once again wakes up to the horrors of insecurity, this time from a devastating attack on a military base in Marte, Borno State. In the early hours of Monday, suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists stormed the Forward Operation Base of the 153 Task Force Battalion. By dawn, the unimaginable had happened: several Nigerian soldiers had been killed, others captured, and the attackers made away with weapons and burned down armored tanks. This is not just another tragedy — it is a national disgrace.
According to local sources, the terrorists launched the attack around 3 a.m., catching the troops off guard. Outgunned and overwhelmed, many soldiers reportedly fled toward Dikwa, where remnants of the brigade regrouped. The insurgents, now emboldened, reportedly control the area, with no clear response from military leadership.
This is not an isolated case. Within the past month alone, similar brazen attacks have occurred in Sabon Gari, Izge, Wulgo, and Buni Yadi — military outposts overrun without effective resistance. The Nigerian military, once respected across the continent, is now regularly humiliated on home soil. Where are the leaders?
Let’s be clear: these are not random security lapses. These repeated failures reveal a pattern of deep systemic rot in Nigeria’s security architecture. Despite holding countless security meetings, top officials seem more interested in appearances than real solutions. The endless cycle of “high-level meetings,” “strategic assessments,” and “presidential briefings” has produced nothing but more bloodshed.
The Chief of Army Staff, along with heads of all security agencies, must accept responsibility and resign with immediate effect. In any serious nation, such catastrophic failures in protecting military installations — not to mention innocent civilians — would trigger mass resignations and a full national overhaul.
What does it say about our military that a ragtag group of terrorists can not only attack but successfully hold strategic military locations? These attacks are not just tactical defeats; they are psychological blows to the morale of our soldiers and the faith of the Nigerian people in their government.
In 2021, the Nigerian Army suffered a similarly humiliating defeat in Mainok, Borno State, where over 30 soldiers were killed, and equipment was seized. In 2020, hundreds of soldiers were killed or went missing in coordinated ambushes in Monguno, Damboa, and Gudumbali. Each time, promises were made, but no changes followed.
Enough is enough, Nigerians are tired of condolence statements, empty press releases, and photo-ops. We demand results. Our armed forces should be the last line of defense — not consistent victims.
We are calling on:
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa,
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun,
The Director-General of the DSS, and all heads of security agencies to resign now.
Resignation is not just an admission of failure; it is a mark of honor in democratic systems. It gives way to new leadership, fresh ideas, and renewed morale among troops.
people are resilient, but our patience is not infinite. Every life lost is a story ended too soon, a family shattered, a future cut short. We must demand better. The security of our nation cannot be managed by officials who have become numb to failure.
We will not stay silent while our soldiers are slaughtered and our sovereignty is mocked.
Nigeria deserves leaders who can secure its territory or at the very least who have the decency to step down when they fail.
