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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an independent judicial investigation into the killing of Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah and several soldiers during a recent insurgent attack in Borno State, citing what it described as a “grave security failure” despite prior intelligence warnings.
The group’s demand follows revelations by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, that security agencies had received credible intelligence about the attack on the military formation in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, at least three days before it occurred.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately constitute a seven-man judicial panel of inquiry comprising members of the judiciary, civil rights organisations, and security experts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The group said the probe should uncover both the immediate and remote causes of what it termed a preventable tragedy, questioning why preemptive measures were not taken despite intelligence indicating an imminent assault by insurgents linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
HURIWA further alleged possible internal sabotage within the military hierarchy, suggesting that the failure to act on intelligence could point to insider collaboration.
“We suspect a conspiratorial plot involving some military officers and elements of Boko Haram and ISWAP, given the failure of the defence hierarchy to act decisively on credible intelligence,” the group said.
It described the development as not only a security lapse but a serious national concern, arguing that officers who allegedly ignored actionable intelligence should be identified and subjected to court-martial.
The group also called for the dismissal of top military leadership, including the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, over what it termed “incompetence and failure to prevent a costly and embarrassing attack.”
HURIWA insisted that allowing such an excuse, particularly with foreknowledge, amounts to gross negligence and should attract prosecution under Nigeria’s counter-terrorism laws.
The rights group referenced previous incidents, including attacks on civilian targets, to support its claim of systemic lapses, alleging a pattern in which security forces failed to act despite advance warnings.
The controversy surrounding the attack deepened after conflicting accounts initially emerged. While the Defence Headquarters maintained that troops repelled the assault on the military base, other sources claimed the formation was overrun, resulting in significant casualties, including the brigade commander.
The Defence Headquarters later confirmed the death of Brigadier-General Braimah. According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Michael Onoja, the senior officer was killed alongside another officer and two soldiers while “making the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The coordinated attacks reportedly targeted multiple locations, including Pulka and Bakin Ruwa in Gwoza district, before insurgents launched a midnight assault on the brigade headquarters in Benisheikh.
Governor Zulum, who visited the affected area, described the incident as “shocking and deeply troubling,” stressing the need for an urgent reassessment of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“This is one of the most surprising attacks I have witnessed in recent times. Credible intelligence about the impending attack had been available for approximately three days,” he said.
The governor also confirmed that local authorities were aware of the intelligence prior to the incident, raising concerns about lapses in response and coordination.
Benisheikh, a strategic town along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway, serves as a key military and logistical hub in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East. Despite relative improvements in security in recent years, the area has continued to experience sporadic attacks.
HURIWA said the latest incident underscores the urgent need for accountability, improved intelligence coordination, and stronger preventive mechanisms to protect both military personnel and civilians.
The group warned that failure to address these concerns could further embolden insurgent groups and deepen Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in the North-East where Boko Haram and ISWAP have sustained attacks on military formations.
The insurgency in the region, now in its 17th year, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, even as security forces continue counter-insurgency operations across the Lake Chad Basin.