April 10, 2026 l By William Emma
Fresh accounts from surviving soldiers have revealed how heavily armed Islamic terrorists launched a coordinated midnight assault that overran a Nigerian military base in Borno State, killing Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah and several soldiers in one of the most intense attacks in recent months.
The attack occurred around 12:30 a.m. in Benisheikh, a strategic town along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway, where insurgents believed to be members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) struck multiple military formations simultaneously.
According to eyewitnesses and military sources, the attackers advanced in large numbers from different directions, executing a highly coordinated operation that overwhelmed troops on the ground. Survivors described the assault as unusually sophisticated, suggesting that the insurgents had carefully studied military positions before launching the attack.
One soldier, speaking anonymously, said the scale of the operation was unlike previous encounters, noting that the attackers’ numerical strength played a decisive role in breaching defenses. Another account indicated that at least three military locations were targeted simultaneously before the attackers pushed further into surrounding civilian areas.
The aftermath of the assault left widespread destruction, with military vehicles burned, structures damaged, and nearby civilian shops affected. Residents described the scene as devastating, highlighting the intensity of the confrontation and the extent of damage inflicted during the raid.
While reports circulated that the late General Braimah may have died due to equipment failure involving a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, military sources dismissed such claims as misleading, maintaining that the circumstances of his death were tied directly to the fierce engagement with insurgents.
In response, the Nigerian Army stated that the attack was ultimately repelled, pushing back against claims of massive casualties and equipment breakdown. However, independent accounts from soldiers and locals painted a more complex picture of an operation that temporarily overwhelmed defenses and exposed vulnerabilities in the military’s deployment.
The temporary withdrawal of troops during the attack reportedly created a security gap, allowing insurgents to loot military facilities and intensify destruction before retreating.
The killing of Brigadier General Braimah adds to a growing list of senior Nigerian military officers lost in the ongoing insurgency in the northeast, a conflict that has persisted for over a decade and continues to challenge national security efforts. Analysts say the latest incident raises serious questions about operational strategy, intelligence gathering, and the protection of frontline troops.
President Bola Tinubu has since expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, reaffirming the government’s commitment to defeating terrorism and restoring stability across the country.
As investigations continue, the attack underscores the evolving tactics of insurgent groups and the ongoing risks faced by Nigerian forces in one of Africa’s most enduring security crises.