Fresh details have emerged on the killing of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and 17 other military personnel during coordinated attacks by suspected ISWAP fighters in Borno State in the early hours of Thursday.
The attacks targeted the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, as well as other locations including Ngamdu and Pulka in Gwoza LGA.
Eyewitnesses said the insurgents engaged troops in prolonged gun battles that lasted several hours, resulting in significant casualties.
Sources confirmed that the brigade commander, his deputy, the brigade imam, and several soldiers lost their lives during the assault. Civilians and security operatives were also among the casualties, while some ISWAP fighters were reportedly killed in the clashes.
The Benisheikh attack reportedly began around 1:00 a.m., with insurgents setting fire to trucks and commercial vehicles, including those belonging to travellers stranded overnight due to restrictions on the Maiduguri-Damaturu road.
Additional reports indicate that several military vehicles were taken by the attackers.
In Pulka, insurgents looted shops and destroyed property, including facilities owned by a construction company, burning vehicles worth millions of naira.
Security sources believe the attack on Ngamdu was a diversionary tactic aimed at delaying reinforcements to Benisheikh, while another assault in Bakin Ruwa may have been intended to draw attention away from operations in Pulka.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed the incident, stating that troops came under attack around 12:30 a.m. on April 9.
According to Major-General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, troops mounted a strong resistance and repelled the attackers after intense fighting.
He noted that although the insurgents were forced to retreat, the military suffered the loss of several personnel, describing them as brave soldiers who died in active service.
Brigadier General Braimah, a graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, held multiple advanced degrees in security and strategic studies and had served in several key national and international military roles, including United Nations missions and Operation Hadin Kai.
