Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum announced a N50 million support package for the families of soldiers killed in a recent terrorist attack during their burial at Maimalari Cantonment cemetery in Maiduguri on Wednesday. The burial honoured Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and other personnel of Operation Hadin Kai who died during counter-insurgency operations in Borno State. Governor Zulum described the deaths as painful, stating the soldiers paid the supreme price protecting lives and property. He said the recent surge in attacks on military personnel aimed to weaken troop morale but affirmed efforts were underway to reverse the trend. The state government's N50 million gesture is intended to support bereaved families and express solidarity. Defence Minister Christopher Musa praised the fallen soldiers for their ultimate sacrifice for national peace and security, commending Borno State's continued support for the military. Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff reaffirmed the armed forces' commitment to ending insurgency and sustaining operations in the North-East. The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, government officials, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Hon. Bukar Talba, with prayers and final honours rendered.
Governor Zulum's announcement of a N50 million support package stands out not for its amount, but for its timing — coming as attacks on military personnel in Borno are increasingly targeting officers, including a brigadier general, suggesting a shift in insurgent strategy. The governor's admission that recent killings are a deliberate attempt to demoralise troops reveals a deeper vulnerability within the ranks, one that financial gestures alone cannot address.
This moment underscores how the human cost of the insurgency is no longer just measured in civilian casualties, but in the systematic targeting of military leadership. With Operation Hadin Kai personnel being killed in active combat, the state's reliance on both federal military presence and local cooperation is being severely tested. The presence of top military chiefs and federal ministers at the burial signals the national weight of these losses.
For ordinary residents of Borno, particularly families of security personnel, the risk of loss is growing with little assurance of long-term safety or strategic success. The financial support, while welcome, does not obscure the reality that morale is under siege as much as the territory.
This episode fits a broader pattern: as military operations persist without decisive gains, insurgents appear to be adapting by focusing on psychological warfare through high-profile killings. The state's response, though visible, highlights a reactive stance in a conflict that demands more than symbolic solidarity.
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