New details have emerged on the harrowing circumstances surrounding the killing of the Nigerian Army Commander, Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah, who died during a terrorist attack on a military base in Borno State.
It has been revealed that Braimah was killed by the terrorists while speaking on the phone with his twin brother in the United Kingdom.
SaharaReporters had reported that Braimah and other soldiers were killed when terrorists stormed the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Borno State, in a midnight assault on April 9, 2026.
The killing of the senior military officer and several other soldiers in a military base further exposed the persistent security vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s North-East.
According to Vanguard, it was gathered that late Braimah had been engaged in one of his routine late-night conversations with his twin brother, who is based in the UK, when the attack began, abruptly cutting short what would become their final conversation.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the identical twins shared a close bond and spoke almost daily, often after midnight.
“Braimah was a set of twins (sic). His twin brother is not here in Nigeria. They are identical twins and are very close. They spoke almost every day,” the family member told Vanguard.
“They started speaking after midnight, as usual, when, suddenly, the General paused, apparently because of some unusual movement at his end. After that, the line went dead.”
The family source explained that the sudden silence triggered panic, as repeated efforts by the twin brother to reconnect failed.
“His twin brother’s repeated efforts to reach him failed. He kept calling and sending text messages, but there was no response. The General did not answer again,” he said.
According to the relative, the brother remained awake for hours, desperately trying to reach the officer.
“He remained awake until about 4 am, still dialing his brother’s number, but there was no answer,” the family member said.
“By about 6:30 am, I received a call from a senior Army officer. The moment I saw the call, I knew something was wrong. He told me the situation at the base was serious, before breaking the news.”
Struggling with emotion, the relative added, “The officer said the base was under attack and communication had broken down. That was how I heard that some soldiers had been killed and that the Brigade Commander, my brother, was among them. It is heartbreaking.”
Earlier reports alleged that the armoured vehicle he attempted to use for escape failed to start due to mechanical issues, leaving him exposed to the attackers.
But Army spokesperson stated that claims regarding an unserviceable or faulty vehicle are false.
The Army stated that the officer was actively leading troops from the vehicle and that it was only “temporarily immobilised” during an intense firefight, rather than being broken down.
The Edo State-born late Brigadier General was buried alongside other fallen soldiers in Maiduguri, Borno State, as grief and anger trailed the incident.
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has announced full educational scholarships for the three children of the slain officer, pledging to sponsor their education up to university level.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, the beneficiaries were identified as 18-year-old Farida Hussain-Braimah, a 100-level Software Engineering student at Nile University, Abuja; 16-year-old Amir Hussain-Braimah, an SS3 student at Olumawu Senior School, Abuja; and 12-year-old Yasmeen Hussain-Braimah, a JSS2 pupil at Olumawu Junior Secondary School, Abuja.
Governor Okpebholo described the gesture as a moral obligation and a demonstration of responsible governance.
“Brigadier General Braimah paid the ultimate price in service to this country. It is only right that we stand by the family he left behind and ensure his children have uninterrupted access to education,” the governor said.
He further praised the late officer’s service record, describing him as a symbol of discipline, courage, and patriotism.
“No child of an Edo hero should be denied the opportunity to succeed. This is about responsibility, honour, and a deliberate investment in the future,” he added.
The governor also called on other states and private organisations to support families of military personnel who die in active service, particularly in the area of education.
Before his death, Braimah had a distinguished military career marked by key command, instructional, and international assignments.
He held a degree in History from the Nigerian Defence Academy and advanced degrees from institutions including King’s College London and the National Defence University in Islamabad.
He served as Chief of Staff at 6 Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Chief Instructor at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and commander of the Infantry Presidential Guards Battalion in Abuja.
He also contributed to global peacekeeping efforts as a United Nations Observer.
Sources indicated that the late General was on the verge of redeployment to the Ministry of Defence before the attack Sources indicated that the late General was on the verge of redeployment to the Ministry of Defence before the attack that ultimately claimed his life.
