Borno: How Terrorists Killed Colonel, Six Soldiers During Raid On Military Base — JTF

• Borno: How Terrorists Killed Colonel, Six Soldiers During Raid On Military Base — JTF

By  Olumuyiwa Olumuyiwa

Details have started emerging about how some unknown terrorists attacked  and killed some military officers including a colonel and six other soldiers of different ranks in Borno.

The details of the attack were revealed in a statement issued on Monday by Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of the North-east Joint Task Force.

According to the statement, the insurgents launched the attack on Sunday night on troops at the Charlie 13 location while  responding to an overnight attack on a military formation in Monguno.

The statement added that the soldiers repelled  the assault after a fierce gun battle, forcing the assailants to beat a hasty retreat.

It added that the vehicle conveying the commanding officer and his men ran into a territory mined with an improvised explosive device (IED)  while the military officers were “courageously” proceeding to the troops’ location to personally assess the situation.

The explosion severely damaged his vehicle, leading to the deaths of the military officers, the statement noted.

“His actions, even after the immediate threat had been neutralised, reflected the highest traditions of military leadership; courage, selfless service, and leading from the front,” the statement reads.

“His willingness to move towards the troops in the heat of the battle, despite the prevailing danger, stands as a profound testament to his valour, sense of duty, and unwavering commitment to the welfare and operational effectiveness of his men.

“Operation HADIN KAI deeply mourns the loss of this exceptional officer and the other brave personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.

“Their sacrifice will forever remain etched in the memory of the Armed Forces and the grateful nation they served.”

Recall that the incident comes almost four days after terrorists launched an attack on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno state, claiming the lives of two soldiers and two officers including Oseni Braimah, a brigadier-general of the 29 Brigade.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said in a statement on Friday that Braimah was killed alongside another officer and two soldiers while “making the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Hundreds of top-rank military officers have lost their lives in the line of duty in a bid to stem the tide of insurgency threatening to ravage the country particularly in the North, since 2009.