The Army has confirmed a senior Officer Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers were killed by insurgents at Askira Uba Local Government Area.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the deceased officer and the soldiers exhibited rare displayed of “gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counter offensive against the terrorists and successfully defended the location”.
He said the families of the senior officer and soldiers have been contacted.
According to him: “Troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, have neutralised several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Saturday’s encounter at Askira Uba Local Government Area”.
According to him, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has deeply commiserated with the families and relations of the fallen heroes.
Yahaya said the gallant officer and soldiers courageously defended the territorial integrity of Nigeria and Nigerians even at the expense of their lives.
He also directed the troops continued in the ferocious counter-offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.
