Troops Arrest 15-Year-Old Suspect Over Borno Attack That Killed General Braimah,

Troops Arrest 15-Year-Old Suspect Over Borno Attack That Killed General Braimah, Two Soldiers Nigerian troops have arrested a 15-year-old suspected insurgent in connection with a deadly attack in Borno State that led to the killing of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and two soldiers, with the teenager allegedly confessing to involvement in multiple assaults on military positions.

The suspect was apprehended during ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the north-east, amid intensified military efforts to track down those responsible for recent coordinated attacks on security forces. Military sources said the teenager is believed to have participated in attacks on Benisheik and Ngamdu, both in Borno State, areas frequently targeted by Boko Haram and ISWAP factions. According to reports, the suspect later confessed during interrogation that he was involved in operations carried out by the group, and that he had taken part in earlier assaults on military formations in the region. The teenager also claimed that he and other fighters moved between rural hideouts used for planning and logistics before and after attacks The arrest is linked to a recent high-profile attack in which insurgents stormed a military position in Borno, killing Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, a senior commander under Operation Hadin Kai, along with two other soldiers.

The assault is part of a renewed wave of violence in Nigeria’s north-east, where military bases and civilian communities have faced repeated attacks despite ongoing counter-terrorism operations. President Bola Tinubu had earlier confirmed the death of the senior officer and other troops, describing them as heroes who died in active service. In accounts attributed to security sources and circulated in media reports, the 15-year-old suspect allegedly admitted participation in the coordinated attacks, including movements between Benisheik and Ngamdu.

He reportedly described being part of a group that carried out raids and later regrouped in rural areas used as operational bases.

Authorities have not yet issued a full official statement detailing the suspect’s identity or the extent of his role in the attacks. The arrest has renewed concern about the use of minors by armed groups in the north-east insurgency, which has lasted more than a decade and continues to draw in vulnerable youths through coercion, indoctrination or survival-driven recruitment.

Security analysts say the use of teenagers in frontline operations highlights the evolving tactics of insurgent groups and the ongoing challenge facing Nigeria’s military in dismantling their recruitment network The Nigerian Army says it is intensifying clearance operations across Borno and neighbouring states as part of efforts to disrupt insurgent cells responsible for recent deadly raids on military formations. Officials insist that despite setbacks, counter-insurgency operations continue to target leadership structures, logistics hubs and recruitment networks of extremist groups operating in the region.