By Onoja Baba
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the state government over the recent terrorist attack on military personnel in Benisheikh that claimed the lives of several officers and soldiers, including Brigadier General Oseni Braimah.
The visit, made on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.
Shettima described the fallen soldiers as heroes who paid the supreme price in service to the nation, saying their sacrifice underscored the heavy cost of peace and security.
“These men wore the uniform for all of us. They stood to protect our communities, our families, and the future of our children. Their courage reminds us that peace and security often come at a very heavy cost,” he said.
The Vice President assured the military and the people of Borno of the Federal Government’s continued support, declaring that criminals would have no hiding place under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The condolence visit came days after suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters launched a coordinated midnight assault on multiple military positions in Benisheikh around 12:30 am on Thursday.
The attackers reportedly advanced in large numbers, targeting at least three military formations before pushing into nearby civilian areas in what surviving soldiers described as one of the most intense assaults in recent months.
However, the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai has strongly refuted reports claiming that 17 soldiers, including the Brigade Commander, were killed.
The Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, said only two officers and two soldiers died in the engagement, describing contrary figures as false and misleading.
Uba also clarified that the Brigade Commander’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle was only temporarily immobilised during combat while he was actively coordinating the counter assault. He stressed that this reflected the intensity of the battle and the presence of leadership at the frontline, not any equipment failure.
The military maintained that troops successfully repelled the attack, retained control of their location, and forced the terrorists into a disorganised retreat. The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing security challenges in the North East despite sustained military operations ag
ainst insurgent groups.
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