A late-night wave of coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters has left a Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force in Benisheikh, Brig. Gen. O. O. Braimah, dead, alongside civilians and security personnel in Borno State.
The attacks, which targeted Benisheikh in Kaga Local Government Area and parts of Gwoza LGA, were said to have begun late Wednesday night, escalating into the early hours of Thursday.
Local accounts indicate that insurgents first struck Pulka and Bakin Ruwa communities around 10:30pm, reportedly overrunning a military base and setting equipment and facilities ablaze. The assault later spread to Benisheikh and nearby Ngamdu at about 1am, where troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade came under heavy attack.
During the confrontation in Benisheikh, Brig. Gen. Braimah was reportedly killed, alongside other security personnel. Civilians and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were also said to be among the casualties, while several insurgents were neutralised by troops.
“Scores of the insurgents were also killed by troops in Benesheikh, unfortunately, some security personnel, including the brigade commander also paid the supreme price, and several vehicles were also carted away by the terrorists,” local sources said.
The attackers reportedly set trucks and commercial vehicles on fire in Benisheikh, leaving motorists stranded overnight. Many travellers had already been forced to halt their journeys due to the routine evening closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road.
In Pulka, sources said the insurgents looted food items from shops and destroyed infrastructure, including equipment belonging to a road construction company. The town currently hosts thousands of displaced persons who fled earlier attacks in nearby communities.
Reacting to the development, a resident, Malam Lawal Benesheikh, wrote in a Facebook post: “Innalillahi wa Inna’illaihin raji’un.
“Boko Haram has again, unfortunately, succeeded in eliminating the commanding officer of Benishiehk.
“This unfortunate incident occurred yesterday night when the insurgent stormed the military formation in numbers. May the souls of the fallen heroes rest in peace.”
