ABUJA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian military has confirmed that a brigade commander and "some brave soldiers" were killed while repelling an attack by a group of suspected terrorists who recently attacked a military position in the country's northeastern state of Borno.
The attack targeted the headquarters of the 29 Task Force Brigade in the Benisheikh town of Borno early Thursday, Michael Onoja, the spokesman for the military, said in a statement on Friday.
The terrorists attempted to breach the defensive perimeter of the military formation but were met with "exceptional courage, professionalism and superior firepower" by the troops, said Onoja, while describing the attack as "a sign of desperation by terrorist elements following sustained military pressure and significant losses recorded in recent operations."
The soldiers, under the leadership of the brigade commander, Brig.-Gen. Oseni Braimah, swiftly mounted a coordinated counter-offensive that forced the attackers to retreat in disarray, the military spokesman noted. Braimah was later confirmed killed in the gunfight.
"In a well-coordinated counteraction, the terrorists were decisively engaged and compelled to abandon their mission, leaving behind traces of their failed assault," he said.
In a separate statement late Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed deep sadness over the loss of the soldiers of the 29 Task Force Brigade, and offered heartfelt condolences to the military and the families of the soldiers, urging them to take heart in the face of the unfortunate loss.
"The government will never forget their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will not be in vain," Tinubu said. "Because of the courage and dedication of our troops on the frontline, our resolve to defeat terrorism and all forms of violence across Nigeria is stronger than ever." ■
