Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 11/Apr 05:56

How terrorists attacked Borno base, killed Brigadier

Fresh details have emerged on the circumstances surrounding the death of the Commander, 29 Task Force Brigade, , following a late-night attack on a military formation in Borno State. Some soldiers who survived the incident described the assault as highly coordinated and unusually intense, raising concerns over the scale of insurgent operations in the North-East. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, was reportedly carried out by fighters suspected to be members of and the . Although the maintained that its troops repelled the ആക്രമation, accounts from some military sources and residents indicated that the assailants launched simultaneous strikes on multiple positions, stretching the defending troops. A soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers advanced from different directions in large numbers, suggesting prior surveillance of military locations. “We have faced coordinated attacks before, but this was different. They appeared to have detailed knowledge of our positions and came in overwhelming numbers,” he said. Another source said the numerical strength of the insurgents affected the outcome of the confrontation, noting that troops initially resisted but later struggled to contain the offensive. According to him, tension escalated among personnel as reports filtered in that other units were under heavy pressure. “There was confusion when information started coming in that some positions had been breached. At some point, news spread about the commander, and morale dropped,” the source added. Findings indicated that the exchange of gunfire, accompanied by explosions, lasted for over an hour, forcing both residents and some personnel to seek safety. Conflicting claims have, however, trailed the circumstances of the brigade commander’s death, particularly reports alleging that a faulty Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle contributed to the incident. Military insiders dismissed the claim, explaining that the vehicle was affected during the firefight rather than being initially defective. “The vehicle was hit during the engagement. It is inaccurate to suggest it failed before the attack. The situation was more complex than that,” a source familiar with the operation said. Another officer noted that only those who were in close proximity to the late commander at the time could give a precise account, as several personnel involved in the encounter also lost their lives. A former driver attached to the late officer also defended his record, stating that the commander placed high priority on equipment maintenance and personnel welfare. Meanwhile, some sources within the formation hinted at possible operational gaps, particularly in logistics and maintenance systems, though these claims remain unverified. Residents of Benisheikh also recounted the impact of the нападение, describing widespread panic as explosions and gunfire forced people to flee their homes. One resident said the violence extended beyond military locations, with reports of damaged buildings, burnt vehicles, and looted property within the community. “There was chaos everywhere. People ran for safety as the shooting continued. Some properties were destroyed in the process,” he said. Sources further indicated that the temporary withdrawal of troops created an opening that allowed the attackers to cause additional damage to facilities. Reacting to reports on the incident, the military, under , dismissed claims of high casualty figures circulating in some quarters. The Media Information Officer of the task force, , said the officially confirmed casualties were lower than reported, adding that misinformation was being spread to undermine ongoing operations. He also refuted suggestions that the commander’s vehicle was unserviceable, stating that it was only temporarily disabled in the course of the battle while active command decisions were being made. The military warned against the circulation of unverified reports, insisting that such narratives could negatively affect ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the region.