Defense Headquarters confirmed there was a terrorist attack on the military base, and remained silent on reports of the assassination of the Brigade Commander

The Defense Headquarters on Thursday confirmed a terror attack on a military base in Beniskeikh, Borno State by elements of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Wednesday.

Defense Headquarters in a statement issued in reaction to the incident, however, remained silent on reports that terrorists killed Brig. OO Braimah, Commander of the Joint Task Force Brigade at Benesheikh, during the attack.

The statement only said Operation Hadin Kai troops succeeded in repelling a coordinated terrorist attack on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State.

It said the attack occurred at around 00:30 on Thursday when the insurgents attempted to breach the 29th Task Force Brigade Headquarters.

The military responded with “superior firepower” and forced the attackers to retreat, halting the operation, the statement said.

READ ALSO: ADC not ready for elections –Bwala

DHQ described the attack as a sign of the terrorist group’s desperation following recent defeats in the ongoing military operations in the North East.

The military confirmed that several soldiers were killed in the encounter. It said that the Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, had paid tribute to the fallen personnel and expressed condolences to their families.

DHQ said further details would be announced once the victim’s family was officially notified.

He also urged the public to ignore unverified reports and misinformation circulating on social media.

Meanwhile, clearance operations are underway in the region to track fleeing rebels and prevent them from regrouping.

The military reiterated its commitment to sustaining counter-terrorism operations and called on the public to support security agencies with credible information.