Army denies killing of brigade commander, other soldiers in Benisheikh attack

In a statement issued on Friday, the spokesperson for operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, said the widely circulated figures, amplified by some television stations and social media platforms, were part of a deliberate attempt to distort facts and undermine ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-east.

The Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, a joint task force in the North-east, has dismissed claims 17 soldiers including a brigade commander, were killed during a midnight terrorist attack on troops’ location in Benisheikh, Borno State.

It described the reports as false, misleading and grossly exaggerated.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked three military bases in Borno including the one in Benisheikh where the Brigade Commander, Oseni Braimah, a brigadier general, and other soldiers were killed.

Many media outlets reported that 17 soldiers including Mr Braimah were killed in the Benisheikh attack.

In a statement issued on Friday, the spokesperson for operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, said the widely circulated figures, amplified by some television stations and social media platforms, were part of a deliberate attempt to distort facts and undermine ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-east.

The task force spokesperson clarified that the official casualty figure from the encounter remains four personnel—two officers and two soldiers—contrary to reports suggesting significantly higher losses, including the death of a senior commander.

Mr Uba said the claim that 17 soldiers, including the brigade commander, were killed is entirely false and devoid of credibility. He added that a verified account of the incident had already been communicated by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

The military spokesperson also debunked allegations surrounding the brigade commander’s operational status during the attack, rejecting claims that his vehicle was unserviceable.

It explained that the commander was actively leading troops from a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which was only temporarily immobilised during the intense exchange of fire.

According to him, this reflected the severity of the battle and the commander’s presence at the frontline, rather than any equipment failure.

Mr Uba further accused purveyors of the reports of using unrelated images and videos to reinforce false narratives about the incident, urging the public to disregard such content.

While acknowledging the loss of personnel, the military stressed that troops successfully repelled the attack, retained control of their position, and forced the attackers into a disorganised retreat.

It warned against the spread of unverified information, describing it as harmful to national security and detrimental to the morale of troops engaged in ongoing operations.