By Muhammad Sabi’u
The Nigerian military on Saturday has an encounter with members of the deadly Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in Askira Uba of Borno State.
A number of the terrorists were said to have been neutralized in the said encounter, which also led to the recovery of arms vehicles by the military.
This was disclosed in a statement released today via Nigerian Army’s official Facebook page and signed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who is the Director Army Public Relations.
However, four soldiers, unfortunately, lost their lives in the course of the encounter.
Read Nigerian Army’s full statement:
OPERATION HADIN KAI: TROOPS NEUTRALIZE SEVERAL ISWAP TERRORISTS DESTROY, EQUIPMENT IN ASKIRA UBA ENCOUNTER
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. In the fierce encounter which is still raging as at the time of filling this report, troops supported by the Air Component of OPHK have destroyed five A – Jet, two A-29, 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 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 ferocious counter offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 13 November 2021