A brigadier general has been killed in an attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, the Nigerian Army said on Saturday.
Army spokesman Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said three other soldiers were killed in the attack on troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai.
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 further said 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.
