Eight Nigerian soldiers, including Brigade Commander Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, were killed in a terrorist attack on 9 April in Benisheikh, Borno State. The New Direction for Nigeria Movement (NEDMO) expressed grief over the deaths, describing the troops as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. In a statement issued Friday in Abuja, NEDMO's Convener Mark Adebayo praised the military's resilience amid asymmetric warfare, calling their service gallant and their sacrifices appreciated. The group highlighted the unpredictable and rule-breaking nature of the insurgents, noting the extreme conditions under which the armed forces operate. NEDMO commended the patriotism and determination of the troops despite the dangers they face. It urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as commander-in-chief, to act swiftly to apprehend and prosecute individuals sponsoring terrorism and banditry. The group stated that intelligence agencies are believed to have identified the sponsors. NEDMO emphasized that exposing and punishing these actors would strengthen non-military efforts against insecurity. The movement called for national unity, stressing that all Nigerians must support the armed forces in defeating threats to peace and stability.
Brigadier General Oseni Braimah's death in Benisheikh is not just another military casualty—it underscores the persistent vulnerability of even the highest-ranking officers in Nigeria's counterinsurgency operations. That a brigade commander could be lost in an attack on 9 April reveals a disturbing gap in operational security and intelligence effectiveness, despite years of military engagement in the North-East.
NEDMO's appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prosecute terrorism sponsors points to a widely held belief: that internal complicity fuels the insurgency. The group's assertion that intelligence agencies already know the identities of these sponsors suggests the issue is not information but political will. When a civil society organisation feels compelled to remind the president of his oath of office, it reflects public frustration over delayed action on long-standing security failures.
Ordinary Nigerians, especially those in Borno and neighbouring states, bear the brunt of this unresolved conflict. Farmers cannot return to their lands, children remain out of school, and military deaths erode public confidence in national protection. Each attack deepens the sense of abandonment in the North-East.
This incident fits a broader pattern: repeated calls for accountability without tangible outcomes. Over a decade of similar statements, attacks, and appeals has produced no structural breakthrough, suggesting Nigeria is managing crisis rather than resolving it.
