Tragedy struck on Saturday when terrorists loyal to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) killed a brigadier general and some soldiers in Borno State during a confrontation with Nigerian troops, who battled to avert attack by the terrorists.
The military authorities in Abuja confirmed the development in a statement and said many terrorists were also killed and their fighting equipment destroyed.
Brig-Gen. Dzarma Zirkusu, who was the Commander of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, was on a reinforcement mission to Askira in Borno South which was under siege by terrorists when he was ambushed.
Three other soldiers in the convoy of the general were also killed by the assailants who reportedly waylaid them outside Askira town.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, in separate statements last night mourned the fallen heroes, while expressing grief over the incident.
The President, in a statement issued Saturday by his media aide, Garba Shehu, said the deceased paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they tried to help their compatriots in the war against terrorists.
A source said hundreds of terrorists had earlier stormed a military Super Camp in Askira, where they killed an operation commander and some soldiers and also destroyed some fighting equipment; hence the reinforcement of troops from nearby formations.
They reportedly went to the military formation with sophisticated weapons including gun trucks and mine resistance vehicles.
At around 9pm yesterday, a senior government official in Borno told our correspondent that the terrorists who had been dislodged had returned to Askira for another bout.
“They are currently engaging the troops,” he said.
General Zirkusu was the highest military officer that lost his life in a face-to-face encounter with terrorists since the Boko Haram elements took up arms against the Nigerian State in 2009.
Many colonels, lieutenant colonels and majors, who normally lead troops for operations, have lost their lives in the line of duty but Zirkusu was the first fallen general.
Some officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces especially those in the North East described the demise of General Zirkusu as a monumental loss to the military establishment and Nigeria at large.
“This is a black Saturday,” said a colonel.
“I am devastated; I am deeply pained. Brigadier General Zirkusu was a patriotic Nigerian who fought for its liberation,” he said.
“He was true a general because he led by example,” another officer, a lieutenant colonel, said.
Residents of Chibok, which was his last place of posting, said he was a devout Nigerian who gave his all to his chosen career.
The general, who was from Adamawa State, was in January this year moved from Headquarters 1 Brigade, Gusau, to headquarters 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, as Commander.
A statement by the Nigerian Army spokesman, Onyeama Nwachukwu, said the troops in Askira had successfully defended their location and destroyed ISWAP equipment during the battle.
“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 filing 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 counteroffensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location,” the statement said.
It was learnt that apart from attacking the Super Camp in Askira, the ISWAP fighters also destroyed telecommunication masts and other facilities, forcing residents to flee.
Before the attack yesterday, it was learnt that some civilians had sighted the ISWAP fighters at about 7am in a long convoy of gun trucks along the Ngulde axis, heading towards Askira.
Sources said the locals had reported the movement to nearby officials but unfortunately, the deadly group reached Askira town at about 9am and unleashed violence on troops and civilians.
“They went to Askira in 16 gun trucks,” the source said.
Daily Trust learnt that additional troops from Damboa, who also went after the ISWAP, were trapped in another ambush. There was no clear information on casualties at the time of filing this report last night.
An intelligence source said the terrorists were aware of the difficult scenario they might encounter in the first attack on Askira and therefore they coordinated the two ambushes on the troops that were on reinforcement from Chibok and Damboa ahead of time.
“They came to Askira well prepared and stationed ambush teams along the routes but despite their preparation, it was still a bad one for them as they have again lost their men,” he said.
It was learnt that thousands of civilians had fled to nearby towns of Uba and Chibok.
Residents who went back around 6pm met many houses torched by the insurgents.
Apart from the carnage in Askira, the terrorists reportedly burnt classrooms in a primary school located in Chanchan Dana, a village in the local government.
It was also gathered that the insurgents had attacked Anguwan Sarki village for about three hours where they burnt shops and vehicles including a truck belonging to Borno State Government.
Another group of terrorists attacked Mulai village, close to Maiduguri and rustled some cattle.
Yet a different gang from the ISWAP mobilised and headed to Buni Yadi in Yobe State where they destroyed a communication mast and a health centre.
However, some of them who went to Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government of Borno, along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road, were dealt with as many of them were killed and their vehicles destroyed.
