The Defence Headquarters has confirmed a significant engagement in Benisheikh, Borno State, where both military personnel and terrorists were killed during a coordinated insurgent assault on the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters. The attack, which began around 12:30 a.m. on April 9, 2026, involved terrorists using sophisticated weaponry to breach the military perimeter, leading to the destruction of combat vehicles and the burning of nearby civilian shops. While the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, praised the “exceptional courage” of the troops in repelling the invaders, the military remained initially silent on the fate of the brigade commander.
However, the Chairman of Kaga Local Government Area, Zanna Ajimi, confirmed to journalists after visiting the base that the commander, Brigadier-General Oseni Omoh Braimah, was indeed among the casualties.
President Bola Tinubu expressed deep grief over the loss, officially honoring Brigadier-General Braimah and his fellow soldiers as “unforgettable and irreplaceable” heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, the President framed the ambush as a desperate act by a weakening insurgency that has been decimated by recent land and air offensives.
Despite the heavy losses, the President urged the military high command to remain resolute, promising continued investment in advanced equipment and personnel welfare. He further called upon the Nigerian public and the media to stand in solidarity with the Armed Forces, emphasizing that the nation must never celebrate or condone acts of violence against its defenders. As clearance operations continue in Borno to track fleeing insurgents, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its partnership with the state to ensure this sacrifice leads to a total and lasting peace.
