Nigerian Army Dismisses Four Frontline Soldiers Fighting Terrorists Over Alleged Breach of Standing Order

The Nigerian Army has dismissed four soldiers serving on the front lines of the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East, citing a violation of standing orders. Images of the affected personnel in desert camouflage uniforms surfaced on Wednesday.

The soldiers were identified as Mukaila Mutari (22NA/88/10253), Isah Emmanuel (22NA/83/7262), Kolomo Alex (24NA/86/5151) and Ibrahim Musa (24NA/86/0885). Their dismissal took effect on Monday, November 17, 2025. The specific order they were accused of disobeying has not yet been disclosed.

Standing orders in the military are directives or procedures that remain in force until officially changed or withdrawn, guiding daily operations and conduct across units.

The development coincided with confirmation that Brigadier-General Musa Uba had been captured and killed by ISWAP militants, escalating concerns over security challenges in the region. Last weekend, senior military leaders, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, visited the Damboa base in Borno State to coordinate efforts to recover abducted personnel.

The kidnappings followed a deadly ambush by ISWAP that left two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force dead. The attack was part of a series of violent engagements, including a late-night strike on a military convoy that resulted in multiple casualties. Armed and coordinated, the attackers inflicted significant losses and heightened anxiety across the area.