Three soldiers of the Nigerian Army were killed in action early Monday morning during a fierce firefight with suspected terrorists in the Kemanji community, located in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak confirmed the encounter in an official statement released Monday evening, praising the troops for their bravery in preventing a larger catastrophe.

Details of the Kemanji Encounter

According to the Governor, the insurgents launched a coordinated assault on a military base at approximately 3:00 a.m. The troops successfully repelled the attack, preventing the gunmen from entering the civilian community or carrying out planned abductions.

"Our gallant soldiers courageously beat back a terrorists’ attack on their position in Kemanji, Kaiama. Many of the terrorists were neutralized by the gallant troops," Governor AbdulRazak stated.

While the military successfully defended the position, three personnel sustained fatal injuries during the exchange. The Governor extended his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, reaffirming the state's commitment to supporting the victims' loved ones and maintaining regional security.

Rising Military Casualties in Regional Theatres

The incident in Kwara follows a series of high-profile military losses across Nigeria over the past month, highlighting the volatile security situation in the North-East and North-Central regions.

Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for the North-East Joint Task Force, noted that recent attacks in Borno—specifically at the "Charlie 13" location—demonstrate a pattern of overnight raids targeting military positions.

Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) remains focused on neutralizing the threat, even as the military mourns the loss of senior officers and frontline troops who have "paid the supreme price" in the service of the nation.