By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Attacked Nigeria military base and SaharaReporters |
MAIDUGURI — A fierce war of words has erupted between the Nigerian military and the media outlet SaharaReporters, as the army authorities launch what has been described as a "malicious campaign" to discredit the platform and its founder, Omoyele Sowore.
The dispute centers on the reporting of a catastrophic week in Borno State, where over 100 Nigerian soldiers are believed to have been killed in a series of coordinated strikes by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). While the military initially dismissed the reports as "exaggerated" and "distorted," new visual evidence released by the insurgents appears to corroborate the grim details provided by the newspaper.
The friction intensified after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that simultaneous attacks on four military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte on March 5 and 6, 2026, resulted in over 40 soldiers dead.
In a rebuttal, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, claimed the reports ignored the "gallant efforts" of troops and insisted that no bases were overrun. However, the narrative shifted on Monday when ISWAP released a lengthy propaganda video showing:
Indiscriminate Fire: Heavily armed militants breaching the perimeter of Nigerian military camps.
Large Caches of Looted Arms: Dozens of seized military vehicles, motorcycles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition being inventoried by the terrorists.
Arson: Visual proof of military gun trucks and armored tanks being set ablaze within the camps.
Despite official attempts to downplay the losses, the human cost of the last seven days has become impossible to ignore. Among the high-ranking officers confirmed killed in action are:
Lt. Col. SI Iliyasu: Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion (killed in Konduga).
Lt. Col. Umar Farouq: Commanding Officer, 101 Battalion (killed in Kukawa).
Major Ibrahim Mairiga and Major Segun Amusan.
Sources within the frontline units expressed frustration with the top brass, alleging that the military is "deceiving the public" while failing to provide air support during these prolonged assaults. "Over 50 soldiers have been buried so far, and dozens remain unaccounted for in the bushes," a military source told reporters.
In a troubling twist, insiders have alleged that top military officers have engaged social media influencers to embark on a smear campaign against Omoyele Sowore and SaharaReporters. The campaign reportedly aims to malign the credibility of the outlet to prevent further leaks regarding the true state of the insurgency.
"They are using paid voices to say we are demoralizing the troops, but the truth is the troops are demoralized by the lack of equipment and the silence of the authorities when our colleagues fall," a source noted.
The conflict, which has claimed over 100,000 lives since its inception, appears to be entering a more lethal phase. Reports from Sambisa Forest and Ngoshe indicate that the terrorists have consolidated their grip on several local government areas, utilizing a "clearance" strategy that involves simultaneous strikes on multiple fronts to stretch military resources thin.
As of Tuesday morning, the Nigerian Army has yet to issue a fresh statement regarding the ISWAP video or the mounting list of fallen senior officers.