By Adesina Soyooye 

Reports circulating in sections of the media and on social platforms as they concern the fatalities recorded in Thursday’s terrorists’ ambush in Benisheikh, Borno State, have been debunked by the Nigerian Army which described  them as false and misleading.

In a statement, the Headquarters, Operation HADIN KAI, insisted that the narratives surrounding the incident have been exaggerated. The statement insisted that some of the  reports and  images and videos are unrelated to the attack and meant to  misinform the public and undermine the ongoing operations.

Contrary to the claims that 17 soldiers, including a Brigade Commander, were killed in the attack, the Army confirmed that casualty figure remains four personnel — two officers and two soldiers. It did not confirm the killing of Brigadier-General Oseni Braimah even though it become public knowledge and confirmed by President  Bola Tinubu.

As it  concerns the Brigade Commander’s vehicle, the statement said that it was inaccurate to say it was unserviceable.

On the contrary, the Army said, the Commander was operating from a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, which, sadly, became temporarily immobilised during the battle while he was actively coordinating the response to the attack.

It dismissed the visuals being circulated in connection with the incident as fake, and did not originate from the Benisheikh encounter.

What is being circulated, it noted, were “deliberately misrepresented to reinforce false narratives and create panic.”

The statement reaffirmed  the Army’s commitment and condemned, according to it, attempts to distort operational facts for personal or political motives.  stressing that such actions undermine the sacrifices and professionalism of troops engaged in counter-insurgency operations.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, the statement insisted, “successfully repelled the attack, retained control of their position, and forced the attackers into a disorganised retreat.”

The Army noted what it described as the growing combat effectiveness of forces in the North-East theatre and urged members of the public to rely on official channels for verified information and to stop the spread of unconfirmed reports capable of eroding public confidence in military operations.

The statement reads in part: “The Headquarters Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has noted with serious concern the circulation of false, misleading and highly exaggerated reports across some television stations and social media platforms following the recent foiled terrorist attack on troops’ location in Benisheikh. These narratives, often amplified with unrelated pictures and videos, are not only inaccurate but constitute a deliberate attempt to distort facts, undermine ongoing military operations and erode public confidence.

“OPHK categorically refutes the claim that 17 soldiers, including a Brigade Commander, lost their lives during the incident. The official and verified report, as earlier released through Defence Headquarters, clearly stated that 2 officers and 2 soldiers paid the supreme price in the course of the engagement. Any contrary figure being circulated is entirely false, misleading, and devoid of credibility.

“The insinuation that the Brigade Commander’s vehicle was unserviceable is equally incorrect. The Commander was mounted on a high-grade Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which was temporarily immobilised in the heat of combat while he was actively coordinating the counter-assault. This reflects the intensity of the engagement and the presence of leadership at the decisive point, not any equipment failure.

“Furthermore, the pictures and videos being circulated in connection with the incident are unrelated to the Benisheikh attack and are being deliberately misrepresented to reinforce false narratives. The public is urged to disregard such content, which is clearly intended to misinform and create unnecessary panic.

“The Nigerian military strongly frowns at the distortion of operational facts and the use of such unfortunate incident for personal/political gains or propaganda. Such actions not only mislead the public but also diminish the sacrifices, courage, and professionalism of officers and men who continue to risk their lives daily in the defence of the nation. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains professional and committed solely to their constitutional mandate.

“It is pertinent to reiterate that troops of Operation HADIN KAI successfully repelled the attack, maintained control of their location, and forced the terrorists into a disorganised retreat. The failed assault underscores the sustained pressure on terrorist elements and the growing combat effectiveness of troops across the Theatre. The military remains the only credible source of verified information on its operations and will continue to provide timely and accurate updates through official channels.

Members of the public are, therefore, advised to rely on such sources and refrain from spreading unverified information.”