News Report:
Fresh details have emerged surrounding the killing of the Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, during a deadly midnight assault on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State.
The attack, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, was carried out by suspected fighters of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The insurgents reportedly launched simultaneous strikes on multiple military positions in Benisheikh, a strategic town in Kaga Local Government Area along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway.
While the Nigerian Army maintained that the assault was successfully repelled and downplayed reports of heavy casualties and equipment failure, accounts from soldiers and residents indicate that the attackers executed a highly coordinated offensive that overwhelmed troops and caused significant destruction.
Eyewitnesses told Punch that the insurgents, who arrived in large numbers, attacked at least three military formations before advancing into nearby civilian areas.
A soldier who survived the attack described the operation as unusually sophisticated. According to him, the attackers struck from multiple directions simultaneously, suggesting prior surveillance of military positions.
“We are used to coordinated attacks, but this was different. They came in large numbers from different directions at the same time. It felt like they had studied our positions for weeks,” he said.
Another survivor confirmed that the numerical strength of the attackers played a critical role in the outcome of the battle.
“We stood our ground at first, but they were too many. They attacked from different angles. It was like an ambush,” he added.
Sources said morale among troops began to decline as reports filtered in that other positions had been overrun. The situation reportedly worsened following rumours that the brigade commander had been killed.
“When we started hearing that our colleagues in other locations had been overrun, it shook us. Then someone shouted that the Brigade Commander was dead. That was when fear fully set in,” the soldier said.
The confusion and psychological impact of the attack, according to sources, contributed to a breakdown in coordination, forcing some troops to retreat toward the town.
The gun battle reportedly lasted over one hour and 30 minutes, with multiple explosions sending both military personnel and civilians fleeing for safety.
In the aftermath, claims circulated that Brigadier General Braimah died due to a malfunctioning Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. However, military sources have dismissed the claim as inaccurate.
A senior source within the brigade stated that the insurgents set the MRAP ablaze during the attack, stressing that the circumstances of the general’s death were more complex than suggested.
“The insurgents actually set the MRAP on fire during the attack. Saying he died because the vehicle didn’t start is not accurate. The situation was far more complex,” the source said.
Another insider noted that only those present at the exact moment of the incident could provide a definitive account, adding that many of them were also killed.
He further explained that although the insurgents eventually scattered during the intense gun battle, their numerical advantage gave them a significant edge throughout the encounter.
