Brigadier general said to be among dead in Borno base attack

A senior Nigerian Army officer, O.O. Braimah, is reported to have been killed in a terrorist assault on a military base in Borno State amid a renewed wave of violence in the North-East.

The attack, which occurred overnight in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Maiduguri, saw insurgents overrun the formation, killing at least 18 soldiers and destroying military assets, according to local and intelligence sources.

According to Kaga Local Government Chairman Zannah Lawan Ajimi, the brigade commander was among those killed.

“Unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life,” Ajimi said.

Defence Headquarters, in their statement on the attack, however, did not confirm if Braimah was among the military personnel killed.

Intelligence sources familiar with the operation indicated that the attackers breached the base with significant force, overwhelming troops before setting vehicles and facilities ablaze.

“They overran the brigade,” one source said, putting the casualty figure at “at least” 18.

Another source noted that the assailants withdrew after inflicting heavy damage.

“The terrorists killed several troops and burnt vehicles and buildings before they withdrew.”

The incident marks the second killing of a brigadier general within five months, following the death of Musa Uba, who was killed by insurgents in November 2025.

The insurgency, led initially by Boko Haram and later complicated by factions such as Islamic State West Africa Province, has persisted for over 17 years.

Recent developments suggest a resurgence in both scale and coordination of attacks.

Attacks linked to extremist groups and allied criminal networks have spread across the North-West and parts of the North-Central, stretching military resources and complicating response strategies.

Maiduguri has recorded two suicide bombings since December, signalling a return to tactics reminiscent of the insurgency’s peak years.

Beyond the region, coordinated attacks have left dozens dead in rural communities, while cross-border militant activity tied to Sahel-based groups continues to blur Nigeria’s security lines, particularly around Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger borders.