Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid a condolence visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, following the recent deadly attack on military personnel in Benisheikh.
The visit, carried out on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.
During the visit, Shettima sympathised with the Nigerian Army and the Borno State Government over the loss of lives, including that of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, who died in the attack.
He described the fallen soldiers 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,” Shettima said.
He also assured that the Federal Government remains committed to supporting the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency, stressing that criminals would not be allowed to thrive.
“Criminals will have no hiding place under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
The condolence visit follows a coordinated midnight attack on a military base in Benisheikh, where suspected fighters of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province reportedly launched simultaneous assaults on multiple military positions.
According to surviving soldiers, the attackers advanced in large numbers and struck from different directions, targeting at least three military formations before extending the assault to nearby civilian areas.
One of the soldiers described the operation as unusually intense and well-coordinated.
“We are used to coordinated attacks, but this was different. They came in large numbers from different directions at the same time,” the soldier said.
However, the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai has dismissed reports suggesting a higher casualty figure. The military maintained that only four personnel—two officers and two soldiers—lost their lives during the encounter.
The Media Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, described reports of higher casualties as inaccurate and misleading.
He also refuted claims that the brigade commander’s vehicle broke down during the operation, explaining that the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle used was only temporarily immobilised while the commander coordinated troops on the battlefield.
Uba noted that the incident reflected the intensity of the confrontation and the presence of senior leadership at the frontline, reaffirming that the official casualty figures remain as previously announced by the Defence Headquarters.
