Coordinated strikes by Islamist terrorist organizations resulted in the death of a Nigerian army general and multiple soldiers during Wednesday night raids across northeastern Borno state, according to military officials.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters reported that militants targeted a strategic military installation in Benisheikh but were successfully driven back, though they confirmed military casualties while requesting time to notify families before releasing additional information.
The assault began around 2130 GMT Wednesday when fighters struck the communities of Pulka and Bakin Ruwa in the Gwoza district, followed by an attempt to capture the 29 Task Force Brigade headquarters in Benisheikh at midnight, defense officials stated.
“The troops led by the Commander 29 Brigade, Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, responded with exceptional courage and superior firepower… and forced (the terrorists) to retreat in disarray,” stated Defence Headquarters spokesperson Major-General Michael Onoja, who noted that cleanup operations continued.
However, two military officials speaking to Reuters contradicted the official account, claiming the Benisheikh installation was successfully captured, resulting in the death of Brigadier-General Braimah along with other personnel including a captain, while multiple military vehicles were destroyed. These claims could not be independently confirmed.
A military officer participating in reinforcement efforts reported that air force planes removed fallen soldiers Thursday morning after assisting in expelling insurgents who had controlled the area for over three hours. The final casualty count remained under assessment.
The ongoing 17-year Islamic insurgency across northeastern Nigeria has claimed thousands of lives and forced at least 2 million people from their homes, aid organizations report, despite extensive military operations.
Both Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have escalated their targeting of military installations throughout northeastern Nigeria in recent months, killing numerous troops while taking advantage of challenging geography, uncontrolled borders, and limited government authority in the region.
