Army Dismisses Nigerian Soldier for Disobeying Ceasefire and Shooting Back at Boko Haram Fighters

The Nigerian Army has dismissed Private Isah Emmanuel, a frontline soldier serving with the 16 Brigade Garrison, after he continued firing on Boko Haram insurgents in direct defiance of an order to cease fire during a fierce ambush on November 17, 2025.

Internal military documents show that troops came under sustained attack in the northeast when the commanding officer ordered an immediate halt to gunfire to allow tactical withdrawal and repositioning.

Private Emmanuel refused, arguing that stopping at that moment would leave the unit exposed to certain death. Witnesses say he instead delivered sustained suppressive fire that forced the terrorists to break off their assault and retreat, an action many believe prevented a massacre of the patrol.

Despite the outcome, Army authorities ruled the act as gross disobedience to a standing order, a serious offence under military law. Private Isah Emmanuel, Army Number 22NA/83/7262, has been stripped of rank, relieved of all duties, and discharged from service with immediate effect.

The dismissal has ignited heated debate across the country. Many Nigerians, including serving and retired personnel, have expressed outrage, insisting the soldier’s quick thinking saved lives and that punishing him for refusing to die silently is unjust.

Others argue that battlefield discipline is absolute and that no result, however successful, can justify breaking the chain of command.

As of Wednesday evening, the Nigerian Army has made no public statement beyond the internal dismissal notice. It is unclear whether Private Emmanuel will appeal through military channels or pursue legal action in civilian courts.

The incident has renewed concerns about rules of engagement, decision-making under fire, and the mounting pressure on troops fighting a brutal, decades-long insurgency in the Lake Chad basin and surrounding areas.