The Defence Headquarters has confirmed a coordinated insurgent attack on the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack occurred early Thursday morning, specifically around 12:30 a.m. on April 9, 2026, when insurgents attempted to breach the defensive perimeter of the military installation. Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, led by the brigade commander, responded with "exceptional courage, professionalism, and superior firepower," successfully engaging the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

Local sources, however, provided more specific details, reporting that Brig. Gen. O. O. Braimah, identified as the Brigade Commander of the Joint Task Force in Benisheikh, was reportedly killed during the deadly clash with suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. While the Defence Headquarters acknowledged the regrettable loss of "a few brave and gallant soldiers" who paid the supreme price in the line of duty, and extended condolences to their families, its initial statement did not confirm or debunk reports regarding Brig. Gen. Oseni Braimah's death. Nevertheless, local accounts and a Facebook post by a resident of Benisheikh explicitly mourned the elimination of the commanding officer, alongside other security personnel and civilians, while scores of terrorists were also killed.

The coordinated attacks extended beyond Benisheikh. Insurgents first targeted Pulka and Bakin Ruwa, both in Gwoza LGA, at about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, where they reportedly overran a military base, setting a number of hardware ablaze. Subsequently, around 1 a.m. on Thursday, the terrorists launched another attack on Benisheikh and Ngamdu towns, overwhelming the 29 Task Force Brigade and destroying several military vehicles. In Benisheikh, terrorists set trucks ablaze and destroyed commercial vehicles, forcing many motorists and passengers on transit to pass the night in the town due to routine road closures. In Pulka, they also looted food items from shops and destroyed other facilities, including machines and equipment of a road construction firm, following a month after the town began hosting thousands of displaced people from Ngoshe.

The Defence Headquarters characterized these attacks as a "clear indication of the desperation of terrorist elements" who have suffered significant losses in recent military operations. Despite their retreat, clearance and exploitation operations are actively ongoing in the general area to track and neutralize fleeing insurgents and prevent them from regrouping. The Armed Forces of Nigeria reaffirmed its unwavering resolve in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information, especially on social media, during this critical period.