Brigadier-General O.O. Braimah, Several Soldiers Killed in Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack on Benisheikh Military Base in Borno

 Jihadist fighters from Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), launched a coordinated overnight assault on a Nigerian Army base in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, killing Brigadier-General O.O. (Oseni Omoh) Braimah, the Brigade Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade, along with several soldiers.

Local government and intelligence sources told AFP and other media outlets that the attackers overran parts of the base, using explosives and heavy gunfire, torching military vehicles and inflicting significant casualties. The Kaga Local Government Chairman, Zannah Lawan Ajimi, confirmed to AFP that the brigade commander lost his life in the assault. Two intelligence sources also corroborated the death of Brig. Gen. Braimah.cad5dd

Military sources indicated that at least 18 soldiers, including a captain and other senior staff, were killed, though exact figures remain unconfirmed as clearance operations continue. Some reports described the death toll as “several” or more than 10 troops in total. Videos circulating on social media, reportedly from a surviving soldier, show extensive destruction at the base, with the survivor attributing survival to divine intervention.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters acknowledged the attack but stated that troops responded with “exceptional courage and superior firepower,” forcing the insurgents to retreat in disarray. The military urged the public to await formal notification to next of kin before further details on casualties. However, multiple independent sources, including local officials and intelligence, confirmed the base was overrun and that Brig. Gen. Braimah was among those killed.

This incident marks the second killing of a high-ranking Nigerian Army officer in about five to six months. In late 2025, Brig. Gen. Musa Uba (also referred to as Sani Uba in some reports) was killed in a separate ambush in Borno State by ISWAP fighters.

Benisheikh is located approximately 75 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, along the Damaturu road. The area has seen persistent insurgent activity despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai.

The Nigerian Army has not released an official casualty list, consistent with its policy of notifying families first. Security analysts note that such attacks highlight the continued resilience of jihadist groups in the northeast, even as the military frequently reports neutralizing large numbers of terrorists in other engagements.

President Bola Tinubu and the Defence Headquarters are expected to issue statements condoling the families of the fallen officers and troops. The military has vowed to intensify operations to restore normalcy and bring the perpetrators to justice.