The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a Brigadier General in a recent attack by Islamic State West Africa Province in the Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday.
In a statement signed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu on Saturday, the Army stated that the troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai were engaged in a fierce gun battle with the terrorists which also led to the death of three other soldiers.
The statement read in part, “A gallant senior officer, Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu, and three soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counteroffensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location. The family of the senior officer and soldiers have been contacted.
“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.”
Nwachukwu, in the statement, also noted that the military had deployed five A – Jet, two A-29, two Dragon combat with which they destroyed nine gun trucks and one armoured personnel carrier of the terrorists.
He added that the battle was still on at the time he filed the statement.
According to the statement: “In the fierce encounter which is still raging as at the time of filing this report, troops supported by the Air Component of OPHK have destroyed five A – Jet combat trucks, two A-29 artillery weapons, two dragon combat vehicles and nine gun trucks.”
“Sadly, a gallant senior officer brigadier-general Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counteroffensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location.
“The family of the senior officer and soldiers have been contacted. The Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya deeply commiserates with the families and relations of the fallen heroes.”
Earlier, The Punch had reported the killing of the Brigadier General and three other soldiers in the attack by terrorists of the Islamic State of West Africa Province on a military base in Borno State.
According to the said report, ISWAP had attacked troops at a military base in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday morning according to reports.
Three other soldiers were reportedly killed in the incident at Bulguma, a few kilometres from Askira town in Askira/Uba LGA.
Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, had mobilised to provide reinforcement to the troops under attack in Askira, Daily Trust reports.
Some civilians in the area had claimed to have seen the terrorists in a convoy of gun trucks along the Ngude axis towards Askira in the early hours of Saturday.
The Punch / TheCable
