THE Defence Headquarters has confirmed that several soldiers were killed following a coordinated terrorist attack on a military base in Borno State.
The assault targeted troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade under Operation HADIN KAI at their base in Benisheikh in the early hours of today.
According to the military, insurgents attempted to breach the facility’s perimeter around 12:30 a.m. but were successfully repelled.
In a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said troops led by Brigade Commander Oseni Braimah responded with strong resistance, deploying superior firepower to force the attackers to retreat.
While the military did not disclose the exact number of casualties, it acknowledged that a few personnel lost their lives during the encounter.
Unconfirmed reports had earlier suggested that a senior officer might be among the dead.
Residents also reported simultaneous attacks in nearby areas, including Benisheikh and Ngamdu, with some incidents affecting movement along the Damaturu–Maiduguri highway for several hours.
Witnesses described damaged military equipment and facilities in the aftermath.
In Pulka, located in Gwoza Local Government Area, locals said gunfire from the clash injured some civilians, while other communities such as Bakin Ruwa were also affected.
The military has urged the public to ignore unverified reports circulating online and assured that clearance operations are ongoing to track down fleeing insurgents.
It reiterated its commitment to sustaining counter-insurgency efforts across the North-East.
