The HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has called for the sack of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff for the deadly onslaught at Benisheikh that led to the death of General Oseni Braimah and other soldiers.
The Rights Group also called for an independent investigation by a judicial commission of inquiry made up of eminent and credible Nigerians.
This is coming on the heels of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, revelation that security forces had prior intelligence about the recent terrorist attack on the 15 Task Force Brigade in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, three days before it occurred.
HURIWA said President Bola Tinubu should immediately constitute an independent investigation by selected panelists drawn from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Civil rights organisations and security experts to constitute the 7-man investigative team to uncover the remote and immediate circumstances that made the Defence Headquarters to fail to put preemptive mechanisms in place using the credible intelligence of an imminent attacks by Islamic terrorists to prevent the massacre of soldiers and civilians.
In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of HURIWA , Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said “it is treason for the Army headquarters and Defence Headquarters to allow their officers at the frontlines to be killed even when the attacks by the terrorists could have been prevented. “
HURIWA said by now, “heads should have rolled such as the sack of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff for alleged incompetence and failures to prevent the costly attack that brought international shame on Nigeria.”
“We suspect an insider conspiratorial plots between military officers embedded within the Nigeria Army and elements of the boko haram terrorists and ISWAP for the failure of the huerarchy of the defence headquarters to effectively put preemptive mechanisms in place to prevent the invasion of the military facility in Borno state.”
The Rights group further said “President Bola Tinubu should stop his sermonisation over the constant overrunning of military infrastructure by Islamic terrorists and order comprehensive independent investigation to be handled by a high powered judicial panelists to be led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, judges of the Federal High Court and retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeal justices and members of the organised civil rights bodies such as Mr. Femi Falana(SAN).”
He noted “For dozens of times, the military headquarters in Abuja has spectacularly failed to save the lives of soldiers in the line of fire even when there is credible intelligence about imminent attacks, stressing “The officers who treated the intelligence with Kid gloves should be named and Court Marshalled because the offence of deliberately allowing ISWAP and boko haram terrorists to successfully launch attacks on civilians and military infrastructure, even when there is prior intelligence amounts to high treason.”
Onwubiko stated “Those officers should be prosecuted under the counter terrorism Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He pointed out “The other time it was the Girls boarding school in Kebbi State whereby Islamic terrorists were allowed to invade the school and abduct dozens of girls from their dormitory after soldiers were withdrawn from the town just few hours before the insurgents struck showing that these are insiders jobs,” while alleging “Boko haram terrorists and ISWAP have infiltrated the Nigerian Army and the Defence Headquarters.”
HURIWA recalled that the Borno state governor made the disclosure at the weekend during a sympathy visit to the town, following the deadly assault that claimed the life of the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimoh, along with several soldiers and civilians.
The attack, which took place in the early hours of Friday, targeted both the military formation and parts of the town, underscoring the persistent threat posed by insurgents in the North-east despite sustained counter-insurgency operations by Nigerian troops.
Describing the incident as shocking and deeply troubling, Zulum condemned the assault and called for an urgent review of military strategies to forestall similar occurrences.
The governor said “This is one of the most surprising attacks that I have witnessed in recent times,” adding “Credible intelligence about the impending attack had been available for approximately three days, and there is a need to reassess our security architecture to address emerging threats more effectively.”
During his visit, Zulum questioned local authorities about their awareness of the intelligence, with the chairman of the local government confirming that such reports had indeed been received, a development that prompted the governor to lament the lapse that enabled the attack to proceed.
Benisheikh, located along the strategic Maiduguri–Damaturu highway, serves as the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area and has long been a critical military and logistical hub in the fight against Boko Haram.
The town has witnessed several insurgent attacks since the early years of the conflict, including a devastating assault in 2013 that resulted in heavy casualties and widespread destruction.
Although improved security measures and sustained military operations have restored relative calm in recent years, sporadic attacks continue to highlight the resilience of insurgent groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
Zulum emphasised the need for enhanced intelligence coordination, vigilance, and proactive measures to safeguard both military installations and civilian populations.
He assured troops of the Borno State Government’s continued support in their efforts to protect lives and property, reiterating his administration’s commitment to strengthening local security structures.
The governor stated “We will continue to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies. Our administration will also enhance the resilience of local vigilantes, security personnel, and affected communities to ensure that Benisheikh does not fall into the hands of Boko Haram,” .
The governor also extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and prayed for the repose of their souls, describing their sacrifices as a testament to their patriotism and dedication to national security.
The Benisheikh attack has once again drawn national attention to the fragile security situation in Nigeria’s North-east and the urgent need for sustained collaboration among the military, government, and local communities to defeat insurgency in the region.
HURIWA described the fact that the Defence Headquarters got the intelligence of the attack three days prior to it as sabotage and high treason just as the Rights group called for the immediate dismissal of the chief of Defence Staff abd the Chief of Army Staff for the military’s crass irresponsibility and failures to prevent the attacks.
HURIWA recalled that Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched coordinated overnight attacks on multiple locations in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, killing an army general and several other soldiers, military sources said on Thursday.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said insurgents attacked a key military base in Benisheikh but were repelled, confirming soldiers were killed while urging the public to wait for formal notification of next of kin before further details.
Defence Headquarters said “Fighters attacked the towns of Pulka and Bakin Ruwa in Gwoza district at about 2130 GMT on Wednesday, before insurgents tried to overrun the headquarters of the 29 Task Force Brigade in Benisheikh at midnight.”
“The troops led by the Commander 29 Brigade, Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, responded with exceptional courage and superior firepower… and forced (the terrorists) to retreat in disarray,” Defence Headquarters spokesperson Major-General Michael Onoja said, adding that clearance operations were ongoing.
But two military sources told Reuters the Benisheikh base was overrun, killing Brigadier-General Braimah and other soldiers including a captain, and destroying several military vehicles. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts.
An officer involved in the Benisheikh reinforcements said air force aircraft evacuated the dead soldiers on Thursday morning after helping to drive out insurgents who had operated in the area for more than three hours. He said the death toll was still being tallied.
A 17-year Islamist insurgency in northeast Nigeria has killed thousands of people and displaced at least 2 million, according to aid groups, despite major military campaigns.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have intensified attacks on military positions in northeastern Nigeria this year, killing dozens of troops as they continue to exploit the region’s difficult terrain, porous borders, and weak state presence.
