Late Wednesday night, April 8, 2026, Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters executed a coordinated assault across Borno State that ended with the overrunning of a key military base and the killing of Brigadier-General Oseni O. Braimah, Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade. The attack marks one of the most significant losses for the Nigerian Army in the North-East this year.
The operation began around 9:30 p.m. GMT with diversionary strikes on Pulka and Bakin Ruwa in Gwoza LGA. As troops and attention shifted, the main force hit its real target at midnight: the headquarters of the 29 Task Force Brigade in Benisheikh, Kaga LGA, a strategic post on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway. Insurgents arrived in large numbers, breaching the perimeter and igniting a gun battle that raged for more than three hours.
Defence Headquarters initially said troops led by Gen. Braimah “responded with exceptional courage and superior firepower” and forced the terrorists to “retreat in disarray”. However, multiple military sources and eyewitnesses gave a starker account. The base was overrun, parts of it set ablaze, and several military vehicles and assets destroyed before the insurgents withdrew.
Gen. Braimah was killed in the fighting alongside several other soldiers, including a captain. Reports also indicated the brigade’s Imam died in the attack. Hon. Zannah Lawan Ajimi, Chairman of Kaga LGA, confirmed the brigade commander’s death after visiting the base. Unverified field accounts put the soldier death toll at 18, though the military said clearance operations were ongoing and asked the public to await formal notification of next of kin.
Residents described overwhelming numbers and firepower. “The insurgents stormed the military formation in large numbers,” said Mallam Lawal Benesheikh, adding that the camp was overpowered. Security analyst Brant Philip noted “large fire sources were detected from inside the camp” and confirmed the senior officer was killed. By Thursday morning, Air Force aircraft evacuated the dead and supported troops mopping up remaining fighters.
The death of Gen. Braimah — one of the highest-ranking casualties in recent attacks — underscores a troubling shift in insurgent tactics toward targeting brigade headquarters and command layers. Benisheikh is a linchpin for Operation Hadin Kai’s control of the Maiduguri-Damaturu corridor, making the breach both symbolic and tactical. It follows the November killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in a similar assault.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation to uncover how the base was penetrated and to prevent a repeat. Vice President Kashim Shettima flew to Maiduguri to condole with families of the slain soldiers and reaffirm federal support for the frontline. The Army maintains that despite the loss, troops remain “combat-ready” and that the attack shows “desperation” after recent terrorist setbacks.
As Borno mourns Gen. Braimah and the soldiers who fell with him, the midnight siege revives hard questions about base defenses, intelligence, and why commanders are still being killed on their own ground. For the troops left holding Benisheikh, the fight for the North-East just became more personal.
