There was an outpouring of grief on Wednesday at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri as Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and other fallen soldiers were laid to rest following their deaths in active service.
The solemn ceremony, held on April 15, 2026, paid tribute to General Braimah, Captain Azubuike Michael Esimai, and several troops who lost their lives during an insurgent ambush in Benesheikh, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The deceased officers were accorded full military honours, including a 21-gun salute and the ceremonial presentation of national flags to their families.
Leading the funeral rites were Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), alongside top military officials and dignitaries.
Among those present was Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South.
In his tribute, the Minister of Defence described the fallen soldiers as patriots who paid the ultimate price in defence of the nation, noting that their courage would not be forgotten.
“These were brave men who stood in the face of danger to protect others. Their sacrifice remains a lasting symbol of the cost of peace,” he said.
The ceremony reached an emotional peak during the reading of citations highlighting the leadership and gallantry of the late General Braimah and his team.
Families of the deceased received medals and folded national flags, a moment that underscored the deep personal loss behind the nation’s fight against insurgency.
Governor Zulum, while condoling with the bereaved families, assured them of continued government support, describing the fallen officers as the nation’s “shield” in the ongoing effort to restore peace in the Northeast.
The sounding of the “Last Post” brought the ceremony to a reflective close, as mourners paid their final respects to the soldiers who died defending the Maiduguri–Damaturu corridor, a critical route in the counter-insurgency campaign.
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