Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have reportedly killed the Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, Brig. Gen O. O. Braimah, in a midnight raid in the town.
The Chairman of Kaga Local Government Chairman Zannah Lawan Ajimi confirmed this to AFP in a phone interview, saying “unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life.”
Two intelligence sources also confirmed Braimah’s death to AFP.
In an overnight attack, suspected Boko Haram\/ISWAP terrorists killed at least 18 soldiers and torched vehicles at a base in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Borno State capital Maiduguri, an intelligence source told AFP.
“They overran the brigade,” one of the intelligence sources said, giving the death toll as “at least”
The second intelligence source said that “the terrorists killed several troops” and “burnt vehicles and buildings before they withdrew,” without giving a toll.
Locals revealed that civilians, a member of Civilian JTF, security operatives and scores of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists were also killed during a coordinated attack in Benesheikh town and Pulka Community of Gwoza LGA.
According to the residents, the insurgents invaded Benisheikh town at about 1am early Thursday, burning trucks and destroying commercial vehicles.
Many motorists and passengers in transit were forced to pass the night in the town due to the routine closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road in the evening.
“Scores of the insurgents were also killed by troops in Benesheikh, unfortunately, some security personnel, including the brigade commander also paid the supreme price, and several vehicles were also carted away by the terrorists,” locals said.
On his Facebook, a local of Benesheikh, Malam Lawal Benesheikh posted that “Boko Haram has again, unfortunately, succeeded in eliminating the commanding officer of Benishiekh.
“This unfortunate incident occurred yesterday night when the insurgent stormed the military formation in numbers. May the souls of the fallen heroes rest in peace.”
Other locals said the insurgents first attacked Pulka and Bakin Ruwa, both in Gwoza LGA, at about 10:30pm on Wednesday, where they overran a military base, burning a number of hardware.
An anonymous local said “then at about 1am, the terrorists launched another attack on Benisheikh and Ngamdu towns, and overran the 29 Task Force Brigade, destroying several military vehicles.”
The terrorists reported looted shops in Pulka town and destroyed other facilities, including machines and equipment of a road construction firm.
There are thousands of displaced people from Ngoshe town, who were seeking refuge in Pulka after their community was invaded by the Boko Haram terrorists a month ago.
The Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the attacks as at press time
