A Death Too Many: Nigeria Must Confront the Truth Behind the Killing of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah

A Death Too Many: Nigeria Must Confront the Truth Behind the Killing of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah

The tragic killing of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Commander, 29 Task Force Brigade, on the 9th of April 2026, alongside his gallant officers and soldiers, on the frontline of Nigeria’s protracted war against Boko Haram is a national alarm bell. It is a painful reminder that, nearly two decades into this conflict, Nigeria is still losing some of its finest military minds under circumstances that raise more questions than answers.

A couple of months ago, it was Brig Gen Uba, Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade, that fell to the bullets of the rampaging Boko Haram terrorists who tracked and captured him following an ambush, and now, Brig Gen Braimah.

The loss of our soldiers, not to talk of brigade commanders is particularly disturbing. Senior officers do not fall easily in battle, and when they do, it often signals deeper operational, intelligence, or structural failures. The reported circumstances surrounding General Braimah’s death are, at best, unclear and, at worst, indicative of troubling lapses that demand urgent and transparent investigation. For a nation that has committed trillions of naira to this war effort, such incidents are unfortunate and unacceptable.

Nigeria has been battling Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province, long enough to have mastered their playbook. Their tactics of ambushes, asymmetric warfare, exploitation of difficult terrain, and infiltration of vulnerable communities, are neither new nor unpredictable. Yet, the persistence and, in some cases, escalation of their attacks suggest that the response has not evolved at the pace required to decisively defeat them.

Even more troubling are the recurring whispers of internal sabotage, espionage, and community-level collaboration with these terror groups. While Nigeria’s armed forces have demonstrated courage and resilience, courage alone cannot win a war where intelligence is compromised and trust is eroded. If there are indeed breaches from within or collusion from without, then the war is being fought not just on the battlefield, but within the very fabric of the system meant to defend the nation.

The constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property rests squarely on the shoulders of the government. Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there must now be a decisive shift from incremental responses to comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and accountability-focused action. The status quo is no longer tenable.

First, the killing of General Braimah and his men must be thoroughly investigated. Nigerians deserve clarity. The military deserves justice. And the families of the fallen deserve truth. Anything less would only deepen public distrust and embolden adversaries.

Second, the government must urgently fast-track the prosecution of terror suspects. Justice delayed in this context is not just justice denied; it is a strategic failure. The financiers and enablers of terrorism, many of whom operate within Nigeria’s borders, must be aggressively identified, exposed, and brought to book. Terrorism does not sustain itself; it is funded, facilitated, and shielded.

Third, there must be a renewed and uncompromising focus on reclaiming and securing border communities, particularly in Borno State and across the North-East. These areas have long served as operational corridors for insurgents. A combination of strengthened intelligence networks, improved surveillance capabilities, and coordinated movement controls is essential; not as isolated measures, but as part of a unified national security doctrine.

Fourthly, the joint effort and synergy between land troops and the air force must be reassessed to ensure swift intervention when troops are in danger. It is so painful that there was no air support when Brig Gen Braimah and his troops needed it.

Finally, Nigeria must confront an uncomfortable truth: this war cannot be won with half-measures. It requires political will, institutional reform, and a willingness to confront not just external enemies, but internal weaknesses. The cost of inaction or complacency is measured not only in lost territory, but in lost lives, lives like that of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah.

His death must not be in vain. It should mark a turning point, a moment when Nigeria decides, collectively and decisively, that enough is enough.