A Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, Brigadier General O. O. Braimah, has reportedly been killed by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during a deadly midnight attack on the town.
News Point Nigeria reports that the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, was part of a series of coordinated assaults carried out by insurgents across multiple locations, including Benisheikh town and Pulka community in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Local sources disclosed that civilians, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, security operatives, and scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters were also killed during the clashes that followed the attacks.
According to accounts from residents, the insurgents stormed Benisheikh at about 1 a.m., setting trucks ablaze and destroying several commercial vehicles within the town.
The situation was worsened by the presence of stranded travelers, as many motorists and passengers had been forced to spend the night in Benisheikh due to the routine evening closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road.
Amid the intense exchange of fire, Brigadier General Braimah was said to have been killed while leading troops in the confrontation with the insurgents.
“Scores of the insurgents were also killed by troops in Benisheikh. Unfortunately, some security personnel, including the brigade commander, also paid the supreme price, and several vehicles were carted away by the terrorists,” local sources recounted.
A resident of the town, Malam Lawal Benesheikh, confirmed the development in a Facebook post, expressing grief over the incident.
“Innalillahi wa Inna’illaihin raji’un.
“Boko Haram has again, unfortunately, succeeded in eliminating the commanding officer of Benisheikh.
“This unfortunate incident occurred yesterday night when the insurgents stormed the military formation in large numbers. May the souls of the fallen heroes rest in peace,” he wrote.
Further details indicated that the wave of attacks began earlier on Wednesday night in Pulka and Bakin Ruwa, both located in Gwoza LGA, where insurgents reportedly struck at about 10:30pm
During the initial assault, the terrorists were said to have overrun a military base, setting several pieces of military hardware ablaze.
“Then at about 1am, the terrorists launched another attack on Benisheikh and Ngamdu towns, and overran the 29 Task Force Brigade, destroying several military vehicles,” one of the sources revealed.
Reports also indicated that the insurgents looted food items from shops in Pulka town and destroyed other facilities, including machines and equipment belonging to a road construction company.
Pulka, according to this newspaper’s findings, is currently hosting thousands of displaced persons from Ngoshe town, who fled their homes after their community was attacked and ransacked by Boko Haram terrorists about a month ago.
As of the time of filing this report, the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the coordinated attacks.