A Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Isma’il Abdullahi Chafe of the 248 Recce Battalion, Illela Barracks, has been killed in a suspected ambush by Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State, just weeks before his planned wedding.
The attack occurred late on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Runji village, about 10 kilometers from Illela town in Illela Local Government Area. Security sources say troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA had earlier launched an assault on a Lakurawa hideout and were returning to base when they were ambushed.
According to accounts from the area, one of the military vehicles developed a mechanical fault while heading back to Illela, forcing some soldiers to stop and carry out repairs. The terrorists, reportedly arriving on about 30 motorcycles with three armed fighters each, attacked the stranded troops.
Sources said seven soldiers and a civilian guide were killed in the ambush. Another account put the initial death toll at six, with a seventh body discovered in a nearby bush the following day. The bodies were evacuated to Sokoto, and tactical reinforcements were deployed to the area.
Lieutenant Chafe was confirmed among the dead. He was reportedly preparing for his wedding scheduled for June 13, 2026. Tributes poured in on X and Instagram from friends and relatives who described him as kind and dedicated. One user wrote: “Just few days away from your marriage bro you are no more”.
Military authorities have not released an official statement naming the casualties, citing protocol that requires next-of-kin notification first. A senior officer who spoke anonymously confirmed casualties and said “aggressive intelligence-led operations are ongoing to track and neutralise the terrorists responsible”.
The Lakurawa group, a cross-border armed network operating in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi, has been linked to several attacks on security forces and communities in the Northwest in recent months. Security officials say operations against their hideouts are ongoing to degrade their capacity.
The death of Lieutenant Chafe has renewed calls for better protection for troops operating in volatile areas and for timely communication with families. For many, the timing of the attack has made the loss even more painful, cutting short a life that was weeks away from a new chapter…See More
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