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Nigeria Buries Brig. Gen. Braimah, Capt. Esimai, Other Soldiers Killed In North-East Terror Attack
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The Nigerian military on Wednesday conducted a solemn burial ceremony for the late Brigadier General Omo Braimah, Captain Azubuike Michael Esimai, and other soldiers killed in a recent attack by terrorists in the North-East.
The fallen officers were laid to rest with full military honours at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri, Borno State, in a ceremony marked by grief, tributes, and a heavy security presence.
Brig. Gen. Braimah and his colleagues were among troops reportedly killed during a fierce encounter with suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in Borno, in an incident that again highlighted the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups in the region despite years of military operations.
Their deaths had sparked renewed concerns over the safety of frontline troops and the evolving tactics of insurgents, who continue to launch deadly ambushes and attacks on military formations.
At the burial, Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, joined top military officials and grieving families to pay final respects to the slain officers.
Also present were the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa (Rtd), Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and other senior military officers, who described the deceased as brave and committed patriots who paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.
In separate remarks, officials praised the courage of the fallen soldiers, noting that their sacrifice would not be forgotten. They pledged continued efforts to combat insurgency and restore lasting peace to the troubled North-East.
The ceremony featured military rites, including the presentation of flags to the families of the deceased, gun salutes, and the reading of citations detailing their service records.
Emotions ran high as relatives of the fallen officers wept openly, underscoring the human toll of Nigeria’s protracted conflict with insurgent groups.
For years, Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province, have waged a violent campaign in the North-East, targeting both civilians and security forces.
Wednesday’s burial served as a stark reminder of the ongoing war and the price paid by members of the armed forces, even as Nigerians continue to grapple with insecurity across several regions.
“Their sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder of the heavy price paid daily by members of the Armed Forces to safeguard the peace, unity and security of Nigeria,” the Nigerian Army said in a statement on Wednesday.
“As the nation mourns these heroes, it is reminded that the freedom and stability enjoyed today come at a profound cost, paid by brave men who placed duty above self and gave everything in service to their fatherland.”
The Defence Headquarters has clarified the recent public discussions surrounding the neutralisation of a prominent terrorist commander, Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki.
A collaborative operation with the United States Africa Command on May 16, 2026, led to the killing of Bilal Al-Minuki.
Following the development, certain media outlets referenced a similar operation from 2024, which involved the elimination of a terrorist commander with the same name.
This has understandably raised questions regarding the identity of the individual who was recently neutralised.
In a statement signed by Somalia Uba, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ said: “It is crucial to note that in the North East region and throughout the Lake Chad Basin, the use of similar or identical names, aliases and nom de guerres is prevalent among ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists.
“This practice is a deliberate part of their indoctrination strategy, aimed at obscuring identities. This fact has been corroborated over the years during counter-terrorism operations in Northeast Nigeria.
“The Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki who was eliminated on May 16, 2026, has been positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance as a senior global operative within the Islamic State network, possessing direct connections to international terrorist coordination, funding and operations across the Sahel. Thus, there is no ambiguity regarding his identity.”
The statement added that the strike represents a significant achievement in the country’s counter-terrorism initiatives.
It said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United States, remain dedicated to dismantling terrorist networks and will continue to disseminate verified information through official channels.
It called on the general public and the media to rely solely on authorised sources to prevent confusion arising from coincidental name similarities.
Three aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who were anointed as consensus candidates by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State for House of Representatives seats have been disqualified by the party.
The three aspirants endorsed by Aiyedatiwa, who have been screened out, were identified as Tajudeen Adefisoye (Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency), Victor Ategbole (Akoko South-East/South-West federal constituency) and Samuel Arowele (Owo/Ose federal constituency).
Others not cleared along with the governor’s preferred aspirants are Seun Ajongbolo (Akoko South-East/South-West federal constituency), Morufu Ibrahim, Oyeniyi Oseni ((Akoko North-East/North-West) and Olaleye Adedipe (Akoko North-East/North-West).
With the reasons for the disqualification of the aspirants not revealed in a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, some aspirants in the state have kicked and condemned the endorsement of the anointed aspirants.
Meanwhile, there was large turnout of APC members on Saturday during the direct primaries conducted across the 203 wards of the state.
In Akur metropolis, party members arrived at the designated wards in their numbers around 8:00 am with the officials of the party doing a headcount of everyone.
At Wards 4, 5, and 8, members of the party were seen queuing behind the poster of the aspirants they are supporting.
Meanwhile, there was an uproar in some of the wards as party faithful lamented that electoral officials were not on the ground to take record of the exercise.
Six suspected Islamic State West Africa Province members, including a bomb expert, were killed early Friday when an improvised explosive device detonated prematurely in Marte Local Government Area.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the blast occurred around 7:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026, at Jubilaram while the group was assembling the device. The team was led by Abu Umar, identified as a bomb expert, who died in the explosion along with five other militants. Three others were reportedly injured.
Intelligence assessments say the deceased were part of ISWAP’s IED cell operating along the Marte–Kerenoa–Wulgo axis in the Lake Chad Basin. The explosion destroyed the site, located between Arinna Maimasallaci and Arinna Ciki, and is expected to temporarily disrupt the group’s bomb-making operations in the area.
Military sources said the incident could weaken ISWAP’s capability along key routes in the Marte axis. Authorities are considering follow-up air and ground operations to exploit the disruption.
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