Vice President Shettima Visits Maiduguri to Commiserate with Army Following Deadly Benisheikh Base Attack

Vice President Shettima visits Maiduguri to honor soldiers killed in Benisheikh. Get the official military response to casualty reports and security updates.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 9:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Presidential Delegation Offers Sympathy to Fallen Heroes

Vice President Kashim Shettima conducted an official visit to Maiduguri on Saturday to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following a significant security breach in Borno State. The Vice President met with military leadership and the state government to commiserate over the loss of personnel, including Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, during a recent combat engagement. Shettima characterized the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers as a somber reminder of the steep price required to maintain national peace and community safety, vowing that the administration would ensure criminals find no refuge within the country.

Coordinated Midnight Assault on Northern Military Formations

The visit was prompted by a sophisticated attack that targeted multiple military positions in the Benisheikh area. Suspected fighters from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province launched a coordinated operation at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Thursday. Survivors of the engagement described an unusually intense assault involving large numbers of insurgents attacking from several directions simultaneously. Following the strikes on the military bases, the attackers reportedly moved into adjacent civilian communities, marking one of the most substantial tactical challenges the region has faced in recent months.

Military Headquarters Contests Initial Casualty Reports

Despite widespread reports suggesting a high death toll, the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai has moved to clarify the official impact of the encounter. Lt. Col. Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer for the North East Joint Task Force, dismissed claims that 17 soldiers had been killed. According to the task force, the engagement resulted in the deaths of two officers and two soldiers. Uba described the circulation of higher figures as misleading, urging the public to rely on the verified data provided by the Defence Headquarters regarding the cost of the frontline battle.