A Brigadier General of the Nigerian Army is feared to have been killed in coordinated Boko Haram attacks on four communities in Borno State, Banki Ruwa, Ngamdu, Benisheikh, and Pulka near the Cameroon border.
A credible military source in Maiduguri said the multiple attacks occurred simultaneously in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting communities on the southern fringe of the Sambisa Forest.
According to the source, the first wave of assaults began around 10:30 p.m. in Pulka and Banki Ruwa, in Gwoza Local Government Area, where insurgents reportedly overran a military base.
Several military assets were set ablaze during the attack, while construction equipment belonging to the Borno State Government was also destroyed.
The attackers were also said to have looted food supplies from shops in Pulka before withdrawing from the area.
Hours later, at about midnight, the insurgents launched another coordinated attack on Benisheikh and Ngamdu, about 100 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the state capital.
In Benisheikh, the terrorists reportedly overran the 29 Task Force Brigade and destroyed multiple military vehicles.
During the attack, the Brigade Commander of the formation, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, was reportedly killed while leading efforts to defend the base, troops, and civilians in the area.
The attackers also set several vehicles ablaze along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway and were said to have operated in Ngamdu community for more than three hours.
Security sources suggested that the assault on Ngamdu may have been a diversionary tactic aimed at delaying reinforcement efforts from the Nigerian Air Force.
Similarly, the attack on Banki Ruwa was also believed to have served as a decoy to facilitate the operation in Pulka.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement on the attacks.
