“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”
The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed the death of a Brigadier General in a recent attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Askira Uba council area of Borno State, Persecondnews.com gathered.
This newspaper gathered that ISWAP fighters attacked Askira on Saturday morning with at least 12 gun trucks, burning houses, shops and a school and forcing some residents to flee.
The Nigeria Army said the troops of Joint Task Force, North East “Operation Hadin Kai” engaged in a fierce gun battle with the terrorists and in the process, the officer and three other soldiers were killed.
“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 counter-offensive 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,” a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu said.
He said 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.
Nwachukwu also said the battle was still raging on at the time he sent the press statement.
