Vice President Kashim Shettima has visited Maiduguri to commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the state government following a deadly attack on military personnel in Benisheikh.
The visit, carried out on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, was disclosed on Saturday in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).
Shettima described the fallen soldiers, including Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, as patriots who paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.
“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 also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling insecurity, assuring that criminals would not escape justice under the current administration.
The condolence visit follows a midnight assault on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, where suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters reportedly launched coordinated attacks on multiple military positions around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.
According to accounts from surviving soldiers, the attackers advanced in large numbers, striking at least three military formations before moving into nearby civilian areas in what was described as one of the most intense attacks in recent months.
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 Northeast Joint Task Force, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, stated that only two officers and two soldiers died during the engagement, describing higher casualty figures as false and misleading.
