Grieving families of fallen Nigerian soldiers have called on the Federal Government to urgently address the worsening security situation in the North-East and stop the recurring loss of lives among military personnel.
Their calls follow a deadly attack on a military base in Marte, Borno State, where five soldiers were reportedly killed after insurgents overpowered the base, looted weapons, and escaped with military vehicles. Despite claims by military authorities that the attack was repelled, sources on the ground said some troops fled their posts in fear for their lives.
Since the beginning of the year, repeated attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP have claimed dozens of military lives in Borno and Yobe States. In January alone, six soldiers died in Sabon Gari, 20 including a Commanding Officer were killed in Malam Fatori, and several others lost their lives in Gwoza, Wajiroko, Wulgo, and most recently Buni Gari. Many of these attacks reportedly left widows and families without compensation or support from the military.
Some widows and relatives of slain soldiers, speaking with reporters, expressed frustration over the lack of adequate weapons, poor welfare conditions, and what they described as government neglect. One widow in Benue State, whose husband died in an ambush three months ago, vowed never to allow any of her relatives to join the military again, citing hardship, poor salaries, and absence of decent living conditions for soldiers.
Similarly, in Gombe State, the family of 30-year-old Kamaludeen Abdullahi said the soldier had requested a transfer from Borno due to rising insecurity but was instead redeployed to a more dangerous zone, where he was eventually killed. His death has left a pregnant wife and a family struggling to survive.
In Kebbi State, the Coordinator of the Military Widows’ Association, Asma’u Noma, decried the hardship faced by families of fallen soldiers. She revealed that many widows had yet to receive their husbands’ death benefits or insurance claims and were living in poverty. “If the government continues to ignore us, who will let their sons join the army?” she asked.
Families of serving soldiers are also gripped by fear. A mother in Yobe said she dreads hearing bad news daily, while a father in Borno described sending troops into battle without proper arms as “sacrificing them.”
Security experts and retired military officers have also weighed in. They blame technological gaps and poor logistics for the rising casualty rate among troops. A retired Brigadier General urged the military to adopt modern warfare strategies and stay ahead of the insurgents. Others stressed the need for better welfare, improved morale, and accountability within the system.
They warn that without urgent reforms, the lives of those on the frontlines and the security of the nation as a whole remain dangerously at risk.
