A terrorist attack in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, on Thursday morning resulted in the death of Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, commander of the 29 brigade, along with another officer and two soldiers. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) officially confirmed these casualties on Friday, describing the personnel as having made the "ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations at the DHQ, released a statement acknowledging the engagement where troops deployed in Benisheikh came under attack. He lauded Brigadier-General Braimah for his "conspicuous bravery, personal leadership under fire, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of his troops," emphasizing that his actions reflected the highest ideals of the Nigerian military. The Armed Forces of Nigeria expressed deep mourning for the fallen heroes, assuring their families that their courage would be eternally etched in the nation's history. Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, reiterated the AFN's solidarity with the bereaved families, highlighting that the loss would fortify, not diminish, the resolve of the Armed Forces to continue operations with greater determination.

Conflicting reports initially surrounded the incident. The Nigerian Army had earlier dismissed what it termed "exaggerated reports" regarding casualties, specifically refuting claims that a brigade commander was killed alongside 17 soldiers. However, President Bola Tinubu later issued a condolence message, explicitly paying tribute to the fallen, including "Brigadier-General Oseni Omoh Braimah," thereby confirming the brigade commander's death. This presidential acknowledgment was issued on Thursday night, following the attack that occurred around 12:30 am on Thursday.

On Friday, Sani Uba, Media Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), further clarified the situation. He categorically refuted claims that 17 soldiers, including a brigade commander, died. Uba insisted that the official and verified report, previously released by the Defence Headquarters, confirmed that only two officers and two soldiers paid the supreme price during the engagement. He stated that any contrary figures circulating were "entirely false, misleading, and devoid of credibility," and that narratives amplified with unrelated pictures and videos were deliberate attempts to distort facts and undermine military operations.

Uba also addressed insinuations about the serviceability of the Brigade Commander’s vehicle, confirming that Brigadier-General Braimah was mounted on a "high-grade Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle." This vehicle was temporarily immobilized during intense combat while he was actively coordinating the counter-assault, a detail that reflects the intensity of the engagement rather than equipment failure. He urged the public to disregard circulating images and videos falsely related to the Benisheikh attack, warning against the exploitation of such incidents for "personal/political gains or propaganda" which mislead the public and diminish the sacrifices of military personnel.

The Nigerian Armed Forces reaffirmed their professional commitment to their constitutional mandate. OPHK troops successfully repelled the attack, maintained control of their location, and forced the terrorists into a disorganised retreat, underscoring the sustained pressure on terrorist elements and the growing combat effectiveness of the troops. The military emphasized that it remains the sole credible source for verified information on its operations and will continue to provide timely and accurate updates through official channels, advising the public to rely on these sources and refrain from spreading unverified information.