Boko Haram attacks military location, kills CO, 4 soldiers

Troops Rescues Another Chibok School Girl

It was a sad day for the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, as one of the most notable Commanding Officers, Lt. Col. Abu Ali was killed along with four soldiers in a night attack by Boko Haram at a military location on Friday.

A statement, yesterday, by the acting Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR) Col. Sani Usman, said the119 Battalion Nigerian Army location at Mallam Fatori, Northern Borno State, was attacked at about 10:00 pm local time, during which Ali, who was the Commanding Officer of the 272 Task Force Tank Battalion was killed

Ali was given accelerated promotion by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for his gallantry last year.

According to the statement, “Though troops fought gallantly and repelled the attack, killing 14 Boko Haram terrorists, unfortunately, we lost an officer and four soldiers, while four other soldiers sustained degrees of injuries during the encounter.

“One of those killed in action, was Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali. 
It will be recalled that because of the late senior officer’s exceptional bravery and gallantry, he was given an accelerated promotion from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel and was decorated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai at Gamboru Ngala on 9th September 2015, during an operational visit.

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Ali was called sarkin yaki (King of war) by his admirers, especially after the recovery of Baga from the insurgents, where it was said he singlehandedly did 95 percent of the work with the tanks and the soldiers did the remaining five percent. He was lifted shoulder high by his colleagues, who called on the President to give him a double promotion for his bravery.

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He was decorated at the 2015 Nigeria Army Day Celebration grand finale in Gusau Zamfara state.”

Usman said in the statement that the troops had recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), seven AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition. He added that mopping up is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army said troops of 121 Battalion, Nigerian Army, deployed at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, while screening some supposed escapee from Boko Haram hideout in Sambisa forest, discovered among them one of the abducted Chibok secondary school girls.

Clutching her 10-month-old baby named Ali, the girl identified herself as Maryam Ali Maiyanga.

Usman said the girl and her son had been taken to the Army unit’s medical facility for proper medical check up.