A tribute circulated by a colleague and obtained by SaharaReporters described the late soldier as “a GREAT MAN” and a gallant officer whose death has left his comrades devastated.
One of the Nigerian soldiers killed by Boko Haram explosives in Borno State has been identified as Lance Corporal Alhaji Mal Idris Alkali Musa, a Special Forces infantry soldier who got married just eight months ago, SaharaReporters has learned.
A tribute circulated by a colleague and obtained by SaharaReporters described the late soldier as “a GREAT MAN” and a gallant officer whose death has left his comrades devastated.
“We lost 
a GREAT MAN today 
is names are [LCPL
] ALHAJI MAL IDRIS ALKALI MUSA. AKA (M-Son),” the tribute read.
According to the account, Alkali Musa was born on March 3, 1999, and joined the Nigerian Army in 2022 as an infantry soldier under the Special Forces.
“He blend in to the NIGERIA 
ARMY as an INFANTRY SPECIAL FORCE soldier in the year 2022 at a war-planner not only a war-planner but a warrior, warlord with integrity,” the tribute stated.
The fallen soldier was described as disciplined and principled.
The tribute further revealed that Alkali Musa got married to his wife, Hajiya Mal Idris Alkali Musa, on April 11, 2025, just months before his promotion.
“He get married 
to is wife HAJIYA MAL IDRIS ALKALI MUSA on 11/April/2025,” the statement said.
He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on November 25, 2025. “He got is RANKof LCPL in the NIGERIA ARMY on 25/November/2025,” the tribute added.
According to the message, Alkali Musa was a source of morale to his colleagues during deployments. “This my gallant causemate always make us of us in this bush happy. He give us that energy and strong mind,” it said.
The soldier was confirmed dead on January 5, 2026. “LCPL: IDRIS M. died on 05/January/2026,” the tribute noted.
In an emotional farewell, his colleague prayed for his soul, saying, “MAY IS GREAT SOUL 
REST IN PERFECT PEACE.”
SaharaReporters had reported how Idris and eight other Nigerian soldiers were killed following an explosion involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near Gubio in Borno State.
A top military source disclosed details of the incident to SaharaReporters during an exclusive interview on Monday morning.
The military source confirmed that investigation revealed that the explosives were planted by Boko Haram.
The source explained that the soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri town when the deadly incident occurred.
According to the source, “while coming from Maiduguri town on Saturday, they stopped at 1 camp on the road in order for them to continue their journey on Sunday.”
The military source said several soldiers sustained injuries during the incident, adding that fatalities continued to rise after the initial blast.
“Eight died yesterday (Sunday) among those who sustained injuries while one just died this morning,” the source told SaharaReporters.
Clarifying the nature of the attack, the source stressed that it was not an ambush by gunmen but an explosion caused by planted devices.
“The incident happened at Gubio not ambush it was caused by explosive devices,” the source said.
He further confirmed that casualties were high, noting that “many sustain serious injury,” while adding that “nine people were confirmed dead already.”
Providing further details, the source said the affected soldiers were from “145 Damasak under 5 Brigade Maiduguri, Borno State,” adding that the “incident happened towards evening (on Sunday).”