Troops Arrest 15-Year-Old Over Deadly Attack on Military Base in Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have arrested a 15-year-old boy, Tijjani, over his alleged involvement in an attack that claimed the lives of a senior military officer and two soldiers in Borno State.

The suspect was apprehended on Sunday in Ngamdu while reportedly on an errand to purchase food for members of his group. In a recorded confession, Tijjani admitted participating in coordinated attacks on Benisheik and Ngamdu last Thursday.

The assault resulted in the death of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade under OPHK, along with two other soldiers, after suspected Boko Haram fighters targeted their base.

Speaking in Hausa, the teenager said the attackers mobilised from Jilli and returned there after the operation. He added that he had been sent back to Ngamdu with ₦850,000 to procure supplies when he was arrested. He also claimed he left other members of the group in Jilli and was unaware of their current situation.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned a recent Nigerian Air Force airstrike on Jilli Market along the Borno–Yobe axis, which reportedly killed over 200 civilians, mostly traders, and injured several others.

The group described the incident as part of a troubling pattern of civilian casualties linked to military air operations across the country over the years. It cited previous incidents in Borno, Adamawa, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states, where airstrikes allegedly resulted in significant civilian deaths.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the repeated occurrences point to lapses in intelligence gathering, target verification, and operational discipline.

“When such incidents become frequent, they can no longer be dismissed as accidents but raise serious concerns about negligence and violations of the right to life,” he said.

The group called for an independent investigation into the Jilli airstrike and urged the Federal Government to establish a civilian-led panel, including the National Human Rights Commission and civil society organisations, to examine the incident and make its findings public.

HURIWA also demanded compensation for victims’ families, medical support for survivors, and a review of military engagement rules, particularly in civilian-populated areas.

It warned that failure to address the recurring incidents could erode public trust and leave civilians increasingly vulnerable.

“The value of human life must not be reduced to statistics. This should serve as a turning point to prevent future tragedies,” the group stated.