Terrorists launched a late-night assault on a military base in Borno State on Thursday, leaving an unspecified number of soldiers dead, according to the Defence Headquarters.
In a statement, Micheal Onoja, Director of the Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, said the “coordinated terrorist attack” occurred around 12:30 a.m. in Benisheikh.
He said troops under the command of Oseni Braimah of the 29 Brigade responded with “exceptional courage, professionalism, and superior firepower,” forcing the attackers to retreat.
“The swift and decisive response by troops underscores the high level of combat readiness, resilience, and operational effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI,” the statement said.
Despite repelling the assault, the military confirmed that “a few brave and gallant soldiers” were killed during the encounter.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, paid tribute to the fallen troops, praising their “heroism, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment” to national security.
The military urged the public to disregard misinformation and unverified reports circulating online, noting that further details would be released after families of the deceased have been formally notified.
However, in a report by AFP, a Brigadier General has been killed in a terrorist assault on a military base in Borno State, marking the second death of a senior officer in Nigeria’s insurgency in five months.
The attack occurred overnight in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Maiduguri, where fighters reportedly overran a military formation, killing at least 18 soldiers and setting vehicles ablaze, according to intelligence sources.
“Unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life,” the source said.
