Suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters have killed the Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade, Oseni Omoh Braimah, alongside 17 soldiers in coordinated overnight attacks on military formations in Borno State.
The attacks reportedly targeted multiple locations, including Benisheikh in Kaga Local Government Area, as well as Ngamdu and Pulka in Gwoza LGA, during a series of coordinated assaults launched around Wednesday night into Thursday.
Local sources said the insurgents, believed to be members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, stormed military positions with heavy gunfire and explosives, engaging troops for several hours.
How the attack unfolded
Residents said the first assault began around 10:30 p.m. in Pulka and Bakin Ruwa, where a military base was overrun and equipment set ablaze.
A second wave of attacks reportedly hit Benisheikh and Ngamdu around 1:00 a.m., targeting the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters.
Witnesses said the attackers burned vehicles, looted shops, and disrupted civilian movement, with motorists and passengers caught in the crossfire due to a road closure on the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway.
Casualties and confirmation
Local sources confirmed that Brig. Gen. Braimah, his second-in-command, the brigade imam, and several soldiers were killed in the assault, with others critically injured.
However, the military high command later confirmed casualties but did not fully verify the reported death toll of senior officers, urging caution against unverified information.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said troops under Operation HADIN KAI responded with “exceptional courage and superior firepower,” forcing the attackers to retreat.
Military response
According to Mr Onoja, the insurgents attempted to breach the defensive perimeter of the base but were repelled after a fierce counterattack.
He acknowledged that some personnel were killed but said clearance operations were ongoing to track fleeing fighters and prevent regrouping.
The military also described the attack as a desperate attempt by insurgents following losses in recent counterterrorism operations.
Profile of the fallen commander
Late Brig. Gen. Braimah was a highly trained officer with decades of service in the Nigerian Army, including international peacekeeping and senior command roles.
He previously served in various strategic positions, including at military institutions in Nigeria and abroad, and was regarded as one of the experienced officers in counterinsurgency operations in the North-East.
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