Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to commiserate with the Nigerian Army and the state government following the latest deadly attack on troops in Benisheikh that claimed the lives of several officers and soldiers, including Brigadier General Oseni Braimah.
The Vice President, who undertook the visit on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the nation mourns the fallen soldiers whose sacrifice reflects the heavy price of peace and security in the North-East.
Addressing military personnel and state officials during the condolence visit, Shettima said the Federal Government remains fully behind the armed forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
“These men wore the uniform for all of us. They stood to protect our communities, our families, and the future of our children. Their courage reminds us that peace and security often come at a very heavy cost,” he said.
Shettima added that the hearts of the President and the nation “bleed with the bereaved families,” assuring that the government would continue to support the military and affected families until peace is fully restored.
“On behalf of the President, I wish to convey our deep, heartfelt condolences to the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and allied forces for the lives lost. No matter how long the night is, it must give way to the light of dawn,” the Vice President said.
The condolence visit followed a fresh assault on military positions in Benisheikh, a strategic town along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway, where suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters reportedly launched a coordinated midnight attack on troops.
Military sources said the assailants struck from multiple directions in one of the fiercest offensives recorded in recent weeks, targeting key formations before advancing toward nearby civilian settlements.
The attack has renewed concerns over the resurgence of insurgent activities in parts of Borno, coming barely weeks after multiple explosions rocked Maiduguri and left scores dead and injured.
While unofficial reports initially suggested high casualties, military authorities later disputed some of the figures, insisting that only officially released casualty numbers should be relied upon.
Shettima assured residents that under President Tinubu’s administration, criminals and terrorists would have “no hiding place,” stressing that security agencies would continue to receive the necessary support to sustain operations across the North-East.
The Vice President was received by top military commanders, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, alongside senior officials of the Borno State Government.
