The Headquarters, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating in parts of the media and on social platforms regarding the recent terrorist attack on troops’ location in Benisheikh, Borno State, insisting that the situation was brought under control with professionalism and operational superiority.
In a statement issued by the Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military refuted claims that 17 soldiers, including a Brigade Commander, were killed during the incident. According to the official account earlier released by Defence Headquarters, the casualties recorded were four personnel—two officers and two soldiers—who died in the line of duty.
The command expressed concern over what it described as deliberate attempts to distort facts through exaggerated figures and the use of unrelated images and videos to mislead the public and undermine confidence in ongoing military operations.
Providing clarity on the condition of the Brigade Commander during the engagement, OPHK stated that contrary to insinuations of equipment failure, the Commander was mounted on a high-grade Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle at the peak of the confrontation. The vehicle, the statement explained, was only temporarily immobilised amid the intensity of the firefight while the Commander continued to actively coordinate the counter-assault from the frontline.
The military emphasised that this development reflected the fierce nature of the battle and demonstrated leadership presence at a critical point of engagement, rather than any mechanical deficiency.
OPHK further stressed that the attack was successfully repelled, with troops maintaining control of their position and forcing the terrorists into a disorganised retreat, underscoring what it described as growing combat effectiveness across the theatre of operations.
While condemning the spread of misinformation for political or personal gains, the military urged the public to rely solely on verified updates from official channels, warning that false narratives could create unnecessary panic and undermine national security efforts.
The Armed Forces reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism and its constitutional mandate of safeguarding the nation, while paying tribute to personnel who continue to make sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
