Suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly killed Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, the Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force in Benesheikh, during a coordinated midnight attack on a military formation in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack, which occurred late Wednesday night in Benesheikh town, has sparked renewed concerns over the persistent insurgent threat in Nigeria’s North-East region.
Security analyst Brant Philip confirmed the development in a post shared on Thursday, stating that ISWAP fighters stormed the Nigerian military camp in Benesheikh, setting parts of the facility ablaze during the assault.
“ISWAP attacked the Nigerian military camp in Benisheikh, northeast Nigeria. Large fire sources were detected from inside the camp and, according to security reports, Commanding Officer O.O. Braimah was killed during the attack,” Philip wrote.
In a follow-up post, he described the slain officer as one of the highest-ranking military casualties in recent times. According to him, Brigadier General Braimah is the most senior officer killed in action since the ambush that claimed the life of Brigadier General Uba in late 2025, also in Borno State.
Local sources disclosed that the attack was part of coordinated operations carried out by insurgents in multiple locations. In addition to the assault on Benesheikh, another attack was reported in Pulka community in Gwoza Local Government Area.
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Casualty figures remain unclear, but residents and security sources indicated that several civilians, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), security operatives, and some of the insurgents were also killed during the violence.
A resident of Benesheikh, Malam Lawal Benesheikh, confirmed the death of the brigade commander in a Facebook post, expressing grief over the incident.
“Innalillahi wa Inna’illaihin raji’un. Boko Haram has again, unfortunately, succeeded in eliminating the commanding officer of Benisheikh,” he wrote. “This unfortunate incident occurred yesterday night when the insurgents stormed the military formation in large numbers. May the souls of the fallen heroes rest in peace.”
As of press time, the Nigerian military authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming the incident or providing further details about the casualties and the extent of damage to the facility.
The latest attack underscores the continuing security challenges facing communities and military formations in Borno State, despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations across the North-East.