“General Left to Die? Faulty Army Vehicle Sparks Outrage Over Alleged Corruption in Nigerian Army”
By Passman Akpos
Fresh revelations have emerged over the death of Brigadier-General O.O. Braimoh, who was killed during a fierce terrorist assault on a military formation in Borno State, with military insiders alleging that a mechanical failure played a fatal role in the incident.
According to multiple sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday, the senior officer attempted to escape the besieged base during the attack but was unable to do so after his armoured vehicle reportedly failed to start.
The late commander was said to have been trying to manoeuvre his way out of the base in the face of advancing insurgents when the vehicle malfunctioned, leaving him stranded.“He attempted to leave in a bulletproof vehicle, but it failed to start. That was how he was captured and eventually killed,” one of the sources disclosed.
The attack occurred in Benisheikh, located in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, where fighters linked to Islamic State West Africa Province reportedly launched a coordinated nighttime assault using heavy gunfire and explosives
The offensive, which lasted for several hours, led to the deaths of multiple soldiers, including Brigadier-General Braimoh, a Brigade Imam, and several other officers, while others were reportedly injured or declared missing.
Beyond the battlefield account, sources raised serious allegations of systemic negligence and corruption within military ranks, claiming that funds allocated by the Federal Government for logistics such as vehicle maintenance and fuel are frequently mismanaged.
“There are funds for maintenance and fuel, but some commanders fail to utilise them properly. When vehicles develop faults and junior officers report, they are told to ‘manage it,’” a source alleged.
The same source added that fuel shortages and poor maintenance culture have become recurring issues, leaving troops vulnerable during critical moments.
The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the ongoing insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East, where Islamic State West Africa Province and other extremist groups continue to mount deadly attacks despite repeated assurances from the military that the conflict is largely under control.
The protracted insurgency, now over a decade old, has devastated communities across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.
As of press time, military authorities have yet to officially respond to the latest allegations surrounding the circumstances of Brigadier-General Braimoh’s death.
