Tinubu Mourns Soldiers Killed In Battle With Boko Haram

By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, James Kwen, Francis Okoye and David Tarkaa

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the loss of the brave soldiers of the 29 Task Force Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai, who died in a coordinated terrorist attack on their camp in Benisheikh, Borno State.

The President also expressed heartfelt condolences to the military and the families of the soldiers, urging them to take heart in the face of the unfortunate loss.

The Defence Headquarters confirmed the attack and the tragic loss of lives, which occurred early Thursday, April 9, 2026.

In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised the courage and heroism of the soldiers who fought valiantly to repel the terrorists and ensure that Boko Haram could not overrun the communities the soldiers protect.

While mourning the death of the gallant soldiers, President Tinubu urged the leadership of the Armed Forces and all soldiers on the frontlines not to be discouraged, but to draw strength from the nation’s deep appreciation for their sacrifices.

“From the reports I have received, our armed forces have been conducting sustained, intense land and air offensives against the insurgents, neutralising many of their fighters and commanders. The insurgents’ counterattack is a sign of desperation,” he said.

Nigerians have reacted with shock to the killing of five military commanders, among them two brigade commanders, within a period of five months.

The brigade commanders who paid the supreme sacrifice within this period are Brigadier General Musa Uba who was killed by ISWAP fighters in November, with footage of his death released by the terrorists, and Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah who was killed in an overnight assault on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, yesterday.

Other commanders killed within the period of five months are: Lt. Col. Umar Faruq, Commander of the Kukawa base and 101 Brigade, who died in an attack on March 9; Lt. Col. S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga and was killed along with several soldiers in an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on March 6, and Major Umar Ibrahim Mairiga, who headed the Mayenti base and was killed when Boko Haram terrorists attacked his base on 1 March.

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Nigerian military in combating Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the region.

Analysts have urged the Nigerian military to launch an immediate, independent investigation into the avoidable deaths of the country’s brave soldiers caused by logistics failures.

LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, in the early hours of Thursday, killed civilians, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, and some security operatives, including a brigade commander, in a coordinated and simultaneous attack in Pulka Community of Gwoza local government area and Benesheikh town, the council headquarters of Kaga local government area of Borno State.

Reliable sources who revealed the latest attacks added that the terrorists also suffered heavy casualties from the troops who fought back bravely during the attacks.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), while reacting to the Pulka attack in his constituency and other security threats in Borno, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had since declared a State of Emergency in the Security sector, to walk the talk, lamenting that both security agents and civilians are dying on a daily basis.

In Pulka, preliminary investigation revealed that many facilities, including road construction firm equipment and machines, were set ablaze.

Pulka currently hosts thousands of the recently displaced people of Ngoshe community.

In Benesheikh town, the terrorists struck at about 1 a.m. on Thursday and set ablaze many trucks and commercial vehicles, killing motorists and passengers who had stopped over to pass the night in Benesheikh due to the routine evening closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road.

“The insurgents were also neutralised by troops in Benesheikh; unfortunately, some security personnel also paid the supreme price, as many vehicles were also carted away by the terrorists,” said a source.

The chairman of Kaga Local Government Area, Hon. Zanna Ajimi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Thursday.

He said: “We are in a difficult situation as Boko Haram wreaked havoc in Benesheikh. Presently, I cannot give you the exact number of casualties, but many of the insurgents, civilians and security personnel were killed.”

Army Confirms Killing Of Soldiers In Benesheik Military Base

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of soldiers when troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade in ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ came under a coordinated terrorist attack on their location at the Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Borno State.

The military outpost was under the leadership of Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah who reportedly lost his life in the gunfight.

A statement signed and issued to journalists by the director defence media operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General Michael Onoja, which was obtained by our correspondent, said the attack occurred at approximately 0030hrs (12:30 am) on Thursday, 9 April 2026, as the insurgents attempted to breach the defensive perimeter of the military installation.

Onoja said that in line with established military tradition and respect for the fallen, the general public and media are kindly requested to allow the Armed Forces to formally notify the slain personnel’s next of kin before the release of further details.

He also urged the public to disregard misinformation, sensational reports, and unverified content circulating across social media platforms, as these undermine ongoing operations and national security efforts.

He said the troops, led by the Commander 29 Brigade, Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, responded with exceptional courage, professionalism, and superior firepower, adding that in a well-coordinated counter action, the insurgents were decisively engaged and forced to retreat in disarray, abandoning their mission and leaving behind traces of their failed assault.

“Regrettably, the encounter resulted in the loss of a few brave and gallant soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, honours their heroism, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the defence of the nation,” the statement said.

Gen Agwai To Troops: Fight For Nigeria’s Peace

Reacting to the incidents, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Martins Luther Agwai, urged Nigrian troops to keep fighting for the nation’s peace.

Agwai told LEADERSHIP Friday that it might not sound well to see a superior officer paying the supreme price, but that the troops at the frontlines should not be discouraged.

“They should ensure they win the war,” he said.

Agwai, who was Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, United Nations Advisor, Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, and Force Commander of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur at different times of service, described what happened in Borno State as sad, even as he urged the frontline troops to remain focused.

“It is sad and painful for fighting men to see people they look up to paying the supreme price. However, I am encouraging them to see the challenge as surmountable.

“They should see this as a challenge and fight for Nigeria’s peace. Let the soldiers on the battlefield know that those ahead of them and retired are behind them. They will succeed,” Agwai added.