By Peace Erewunmi

A former Nigerian Army officer, Major Osagie, has claimed that some Boko Haram fighters killed during military operations were later identified as foreign nationals after soldiers removed the face coverings they wore during combat.

Speaking during an interview, Osagie alleged that he personally witnessed colleagues uncover the faces of slain insurgents and discovered that several of them were not Nigerians. He argued that the experience reinforced concerns about the involvement of foreign fighters in the insurgency affecting parts of the country.

According to the retired officer, the presence of non-Nigerian combatants highlights the transnational nature of terrorism in the Lake Chad region, where extremist groups are known to operate across the borders of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. He stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation to address the security threat.

Osagie called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify border security, improve intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries and strengthen efforts to disrupt the movement of foreign terrorists and weapons into Nigeria.

His remarks have sparked fresh discussions about the composition of insurgent groups operating in the country. However, the claims remain his personal account and have not been independently verified by the Nigerian military or other official authorities.