Nigerian soldier shares harrowing account of life on the frontlines

A Nigerian soldier who simply identified himself as Ibrahim in post has shared a gripping account of his experiences on the frontlines of the country’s counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, detailing the harsh conditions, hunger, isolation and deadly encounters faced by troops battling insurgents.

In the narrative, the soldier described the journey from deployment to active combat, revealing that he and other personnel were initially unaware they were being sent directly to the frontline.

According to him, the troops travelled toward the North-East and spent the night in Azare, Bauchi State, where they had no accommodation.

With nowhere to sleep, many of the soldiers reportedly spent the night inside military vehicles or on top of them to avoid scorpions and snakes, while enduring hunger after arriving late without access to food.

The following morning, they resumed their journey without breakfast, bathing or brushing their teeth, believing they would be stationed within Maiduguri.

However, as the convoy moved beyond the University of Maiduguri and civilian activity disappeared, the soldier said he realised they were approaching a dangerous combat zone after his mobile phone network changed to “Emergency Only.”

Ibrahim recalled seeing burnt vehicles, destroyed armoured tanks, spent ammunition casings and the wreckage of military equipment along the route before arriving in Konduga.

The soldier said the troops temporarily camped at a primary school in Konduga after spending nearly two days without food.

He described the high cost of basic supplies at the location, noting that he paid ₦1,000 each for a loaf of bread and a carton of Nutri-Milk because hunger left him with little choice.

The soldier said he later volunteered for another deployment because there was no proper shelter in Konduga, forcing troops to sleep outdoors.

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He was subsequently deployed to Banki Junction, where he joined another military formation operating near the Sambisa Forest.

The soldier described life near Sambisa as extremely isolated, saying there was virtually no communication network and families often had no idea whether their loved ones were alive.

He explained that soldiers occasionally relied on passing patrol teams to contact relatives by handing over phone numbers and asking them to relay messages to their families.

He also noted that money had little value in the operational area because there were few items available for purchase.

The soldier said he was eventually granted leave to travel home for his wedding after months at the frontline.

He recalled that his family was shocked by his appearance upon arriving in Kano, saying he had become extremely thin and weak after months in the battlefield.

Although he was granted seven days of leave, later extended by two additional days, he said returning to the frontline shortly after his wedding was emotionally difficult for both him and his wife.

The soldier narrated that upon returning to the theatre of operations, he joined an advance team moving toward Banki Town.

He said the operation lasted about 10 days, during which troops cleared routes, recovered several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and engaged insurgents in multiple encounters.

According to him, hunger remained one of the greatest challenges throughout the mission.

He also recalled that upon reaching Banki Town, many soldiers drank rainwater collected at a fuel station despite warnings that it could be contaminated because they were severely dehydrated.

Following their arrival at a base located near the Central Mosque in Banki, the troops began digging defensive trenches.

Later that evening, the soldier said Boko Haram fighters launched what he described as a massive assault on the military position.

Although the troops successfully defended the base and prevented it from being overrun, he said the battle claimed the lives of about 12 soldiers.

The soldier’s account provides a rare personal insight into the realities faced by military personnel deployed to Nigeria’s insurgency-hit North-East, where troops continue to confront dangerous combat conditions, logistical challenges and prolonged separation from their families while carrying out counter-terrorism operations.