By Fatima Saka
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday confirmed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a coordinated attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, though it acknowledged that some soldiers were killed in the encounter.
In a statement, the DHQ said the attack occurred at about 12:30 a.m. when insurgents attempted to breach the Headquarters of the 29 Task Force Brigade. It noted that troops responded with “superior firepower,” forcing the attackers to retreat and abandon their mission.
However, the military authorities did not address reports alleging that a Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force, Brigadier-General O. O. Braimah, was killed during the incident.
The DHQ described the assault as an act of desperation by террорист groups following sustained losses from ongoing military offensives in the North-East theatre.
According to the statement, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and extended condolences to their families.
It added that further details regarding the casualties would be made public after the next of kin of the deceased personnel have been duly notified.
The military also urged the public to disregard unverified reports and misinformation circulating on social media, stressing the importance of relying on official channels for accurate updates.
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Meanwhile, clearance operations are ongoing in the Benisheikh axis to track fleeing insurgents and prevent any attempt to regroup.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating terrorism, the DHQ called on citizens to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence to enhance ongoing operations.
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