Army General killed As Troops Repel Attack By ISWAP Terrorists, Destroy Equipment In Borno

Troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI have neutralized several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a recent encounter in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

 

A statement released to the media by Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu on Saturday said the fierce encounter was still ongoing as at the time he filed the report. According to him, troops supported by the Air Component of OPHK have destroyed five A – Jet, two A-29, two Dragon combat vehicles and nine Gun Trucks.

 

It was also gathered  that a senior officer, Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers who fought gallantly to liberate the besieged community and the hapless residents from the onslaught of the terrorists paid the supreme sacrifice in the course of the battle.

 

The brave senior Officer was said to have fought till the end in rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counter offensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location.

 

Nwachukwu stated that the family of the senior officer and soldiers have been contacted.

 

He said the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya deeply commiserates with the families and relations of the fallen heroes.

 

He has also directed that the troops continue in the ferrocious counter offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has commended the Nigerian military for putting up a strong resilience in a battle with fighters from the Islamic State of West Africa Province, who launched attacks on a military base in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of southern Borno State, on Saturday morning.

 

Governor Zulum, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, paid tribute to troops at the base as well as troops from neighbouring commands, who mobilised to provide reinforcement before they were ambushed.

 

Governor Zulum, while commiserating with the military over the loss of some military officers and personnel, thanked the fallen heroes for what he called “their supreme sacrifices to the Nigerian Nation”, declaring that “the people of Borno will remain forever grateful to them and all fallen heroes, and will remain fully supported of gallant troops currently operating in front lines”.

 

Zulum amid the loss of some officers and personnel, the military was able to mount heavy resistance and recorded gains which the State is proud of.

 

The Governor commiserated with affected residents for the trauma caused by the attack and shared the pains of anyone who may have turned victim directly and otherwise.

 

“Today’s unfortunate incident in Askira-Uba local Government area reminds us that while our military, other armed forces, volunteers and all stakeholders make combined severe efforts towards peace-building; while many insurgents surrender their arms to tow the path of peace and while reclaimed communities witness return of peace and access to livelihoods, some insurgents are hell-bent on ensuring we do not fully regain peace.

 

“The goal of these categories of insurgents should challenge us to remain focused and ceaselessly commit ourselves to supporting our troops in many ways, particularly with logistics on the part of Government, and with credible information and prayers on the part of all of us as people of Borno State.

 

“We must always affirm our fates in our armed forces, while the armed forces must remain up and doing. We must always recognize what we already know, that insurgents are always plotting with the elements of surprise. Our troops must redouble efforts to be ahead of insurgents.

 

“I salute our troops for the resistance put up today. I salute troops who mobilized to provide reinforcement. I salute the sacrifices of some officers and men we lost today and share the grieves of the immediate families and the Nigeria military. We thank these fallen heroes for their supreme sacrifices to the Nigerian Nation.

 

“The people of Borno will remain forever grateful to them and all fallen heroes, and will remain fully supported of gallant troops currently operating in front lines” Zulum said as quoted in the statement.