7 Top Nigerian army officers killed by Boko Haram is a collection of information about some top Nigerian military personnel who lost their lives in the unending war against the dreaded insurgency group Boko Haram.
Starting around 2011, Boko Haram—one of the biggest Islamist terrorist group in Africa—has led a number of deadly attacks that killed many Nigerian soldiers.
Some of the soldiers who paid the supreme price while defending the nation include top military officers of the Nigerian Army.
Below are the faces of 7 top Nigerian army officers killed by Boko Haram;
1- Col. Dahiru Bako
According to News agency of Nigeria (NAN) Col. Dahiru Bako was trapped and killed in a Boko Haram ambush on the 20th of September, 2020.
He died while conducting a clearance operation alongside his troops at Sabon Gari-Wajiroko axis in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno state. His patrol team fell into a trap set by Boko Haram terrorists at about 10 a.m Sunday 20 September 2020
2- Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Abu Ali
The Nigerian military’s unending war against Boko Haram took a major blow when one of the most active commander in the Nigerian Army was killed in a Boko Haram ambush on the 4th day of November 2016.
Lt Colonel Abu Ali, was trapped and killed alongside six other soldiers by Boko Haram terrorists. Prior to his demise, Lt Col Abu Ali was the commander of the Nigerian Army’s 272 Tank Battalion in Fatori, Borno State. He was known for singlehandedly winning many battles for the Nigerian Army which earned him many awards and medals.
Abu Ali was was laid to rest precisely on November 7, 2016, at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
3- Colonel Ibrahim Sakaba
Colonel Sakaba died on November 18, 2018 in one of the deadliest attacks on Nigerian soldiers in the history of counterinsurgency operations going on in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.
The senior army officer was killed alongside 117 soldiers when Boko Haram insurgents laid siege on their camp in Metele axis, Borno State, Nigeria.
Until his death, Colonel Sakaba commanded the Nigerian Army’s 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele.
His appointment as the commander of the 157 Task Force Battalion, according to the Premium Times, was his second as a lieutenant colonel, and it was marked by his constant complaints about bad military hardware and a lack of logistics for his men.
4- Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu
Zirkusu was killed with four other officers in the Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
He was the commander of the Special Forces of the Nigerian Army until his death.
He died gallantly during a fierce battle with ISWAP terrorists in Borno State.
The terrorists were said to have arrived in Askira town with heavy weapons before General Zirkusu and others prevented them from entering the town. The gallant officer died in the process.
5- Major U. I Urang
Major U. I Urang died along with not less than 14 other soldiers in an ambush by a faction of Boko Haram terrorists group popularly known as ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) militants.
Major Urang was in a military convoy in Gudumbali area of Borno state when the dreaded Islamist militants laid siege on them.
The convoy which had 10 military vehicles was going to Gudumbali from Kukawa town for a tactical operation on Thursday, March 11 2021 against the Islamic insurgents when it went under weighty fire from the extremists.
Major Urang, was until his death, the commander of 123 Unique powers brigade of the Nigerian Armed force.
6- Lieutenant Colonel O. Umusu
Another top officer in the ranks of the Nigerian Armed force, Lieutenant Colonel, O. Umusu, was been killed by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state sometime around in July 2016.
The late Umusu, was the leader of 118 task Force battalion of the Nigerian army in Borno State. He was killed alongside members of his security detailes during a Boko Haram snare.
The snare was said to have happened along Sari and Gudumbali area while they were getting back from Maiduguri to Baga.
7- COLONEL KABIRU SALISU
Colonel Salisu died sometime around April 2014 when he fell into the trap of deadly Boko Haram terrorists ambush. He was in his amoured Personnel carrier when the militants struck. Report has it that his APC came under severe artillery fire from Boko Haram terrorists, so much that the vehicle busted into flames. He was killed alongside other soldiers in the vehicle.
Kabiru was a respected commander among his troops.
Conclusion
Hundreds of Nigerian military personnel have been killed in the long unending war against Boko Haram/ISWAP Islamist terrorists in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, especially in Borno State. The military is doing their best to put an end to the security menace. The Federal Government of Nigeria is also trying their best, spending millions of Dollars to buy modern and sophisticated wapons.
We can only continue to pray for the departed souls, as no amount of tears can bring them back.
We also constantly need to pray for the Nigerian soldiers on the battlefield. As they keep protecting us from harm’s way, may God in his infinite mercy protect them as well.
Concerns
Connections between Boko Haram and other Islamist militants could further intensify provincial security concerns. After Boko Haram swore allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015, the US supported Nigeria with tactical help and conveyed 300 soldiers to Nigeria with an end goal to help in the battle against Boko Haram. As the biggest African oil maker, the steadiness of Nigeria is imperative to provincial security and U.S. monetary interests.
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