Nigeria recorded 454 military deaths in ambushes since 2019 — New security report

A new security assessment by SBM Intelligence has shown that at least 454 Nigerian soldiers were killed in ambush attacks between 2019 and 2025, highlighting the increasing dangers confronting troops across multiple conflict zones.

In the report titled “The Kill Zone: Ambushes Against Nigerian Military and Security Forces (2019–2025),” SBM notes that the military and other security agencies, already stretched across more than two-thirds of the country, have been pulled into a prolonged cycle of deadly confrontations, particularly in the Northeast and Northwest.

According to the findings, the ambushes have not only targeted soldiers but have also claimed the lives of police personnel, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members, and other operatives involved in counterinsurgency operations.

Borno accounts for majority of recorded ambushes

The report identifies Borno State as the hardest-hit area, accounting for more than 60% of all ambush incidents within the six-year period. It notes that ISWAP, considered the more coordinated faction of the Boko Haram insurgency, continues to strengthen its presence around Borno and the Lake Chad Basin.

The Northwest has also emerged as a growing hotspot, with attacks by armed bandit groups rising sharply since 2020. Zamfara remains the most affected state in that region, while Katsina is listed as another major target area. The report adds that porous borders have enabled spillovers from neighbouring conflict zones, including incursions linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and groups such as the Lakurawa faction.

One of the most significant incidents recorded in the period was the death of Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu, who was killed during an ambush near Askira Uba in Borno State in November 2021, an episode that underscored the evolving sophistication of insurgent groups.

SBM Intelligence notes that insurgent factions have refined their tactics over time, shifting from direct territorial battles to more frequent asymmetric engagements aimed at exhausting security forces.

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The organisation states, “Ambushes against Nigerian security forces between 2019 and 2025 indicate a sustained insurgency that has evolved into a war of attrition. Despite some gains, the threat remains severe, with ideological extremism merging with criminal networks.”

Earlier in June, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum donated N100 million to support wounded soldiers and the families of officers killed in ongoing counter-insurgency operations. In December 2024, President Bola Tinubu proposed N4.91 trillion for defence and security in the 2025 budget, the largest single allocation in the fiscal plan.