April 15, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Army, on Wednesday, buried Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Captain Ismail, and other soldiers killed in a recent coordinated insurgent attack in Borno State, as military authorities reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East despite continued security challenges.
The fallen officers and men were laid to rest at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri with full military honours, following their deaths on April 9, when suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters launched simultaneous attacks on military positions in Benisheikh, a strategic town in Kaga Local Government Area along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway.
Among those honoured at the burial were Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and Captain Ismail, alongside other personnel who died in active service during the encounter.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, the Nigerian Army described the burial as a solemn national moment, noting that the officers and soldiers “paid the supreme price in the line of duty” while defending the country against entrenched insurgent threats.
The statement further stressed that their sacrifice highlights the “heavy price paid daily” by members of the Armed Forces in sustaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity amid evolving asymmetric warfare tactics employed by insurgent groups.
The burial ceremony at Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri, Borno State, was attended by senior military officers and top government representatives, including the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alongside other service chiefs and commanders.
Military and political leaders at the event described the slain personnel as frontline patriots whose deaths reflect both the dangers of the counter-insurgency campaign and the continuing resilience of troops deployed in one of Africa’s longest-running security operations.
Beyond the ceremonial honours, the incident has again drawn attention to the operational risks faced by troops stationed along key corridors in Borno, where insurgents continue to exploit gaps in surveillance, mobility, and force concentration to launch sporadic but coordinated assaults.
While commending the courage of the fallen soldiers, the Army leadership reiterated its commitment to strengthening battlefield readiness, enhancing intelligence-led operations, and sustaining pressure on insurgent networks operating in the North-East theatre.
Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the deceased, while military citations detailing their service records were read in the presence of grieving families and comrades-in-arms.
The Army noted that although the nation continues to mourn repeated losses in counter-insurgency operations, the sacrifice of its personnel remains central to ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.
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