Shettima Visits Borno, Consoles Army Over Deadly Attack [PHOTOS]

Vice President Kashim Shettima has visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the state government over the recent attack on military personnel in Benisheikh, which left several officers and soldiers dead, including Brigadier General Oseni Braimah.

The visit, made on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was confirmed in a statement on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.

Shettima said the fallen soldiers died in service to the nation, describing their sacrifice as a reminder of the heavy cost of peace and national security.

“These men wore the uniform for all of us. They stood to protect our communities, our families, and the future of our children. Their courage reminds us that peace and security often come at a very heavy cost,” he said.

He assured that the Federal Government remains committed to supporting the Armed Forces, adding that “criminals will have no hiding place under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The condolence visit follows a deadly midnight attack on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, where suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters reportedly launched coordinated assaults on multiple military positions around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The attackers were said to have advanced in large numbers, targeting at least three military formations before moving into nearby civilian communities, in what surviving soldiers described as one of the most intense assaults in recent months.

A soldier who survived the attack said the operation was highly coordinated and unlike previous encounters.

“We are used to coordinated attacks, but this was different. They came in large numbers from different directions at the same time,” he said.

However, the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai has dismissed reports claiming that 17 soldiers, including a brigade commander, were killed.

The Media Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said only two officers and two soldiers died during the engagement, describing the higher casualty figures as false and misleading.

He also rejected claims that the brigade commander’s vehicle malfunctioned during the operation, explaining that the commander was in a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle which was only temporarily immobilised during combat while he coordinated the response.

Uba maintained that the incident reflected the intensity of the battle and the presence of leadership at the frontline, insisting that official casualty figures remain those released by the Defence Headquarters.