Brigadier General feared killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks in Borno

Brigadier General feared killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks in Borno

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

A brigadier general of the Nigerian Army has been feared killed in coordinated Boko Haram terrorist attacks in four communities of Banki Ruwa, Ngamdu, Benisheik and Pulka, a border area with Cameroon.

According to a credible military source on Thursday in Maiduguri, the multiple attacks simultaneously occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting four communities located on the south fringe of Sambisa Forest.

According to reports, the first wave of assaults began at about 10:30 p.m. in Pulka and Bakin Ruwa, both in Gwoza Local Government Area.

The terrorists reportedly overran a military base in the area, adding that several military assets were also set ablaze at dawn.

ablaze. The attack also destroyed construction equipment belonging to the Borno State Government.

The attackers, according to the source, further looted food items from shops at Pulka village before withdrawing.

The military further revealed: “Hours later, by midnight, the insurgents launched another set of attacks on Benisheik and Ngamdu, 100 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

In Benisheikh, the terrorists reportedly overran the 29 Task Force Brigade, destroying multiple military vehicles.

The military explained that during the attacks, the Brigade Commander of an army base, Brig-Gen. O.O. Braimah, was killed while reportedly leading efforts to defend the base, his troops, and the civilians in the affected area.

The attackers also set several vehicles in transit along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Motorway on fire and continued to operate in the Ngamdu community for more than three hours.

Other security sources indicated that the assault on Ngamdu, located near Benisheik, may have been a diversionary tactic designed to delay reinforcement efforts. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets were involved in the operation.

Similarly, the Pulka operation may have used the attack on Bakin Ruwa as a decoy.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military is yet to issue an official statement regarding the attacks on the four communities in Borno State.