Brigadier-General Dzarma Zirkusu, a commander in the Nigerian Army, has been killed by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State, Saturday.
In a statement signed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu on Saturday, the Army stated that the troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai were engaged in a fierce gun battle with the terrorists which also led to the death of three other soldiers.
The statement read in part, “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 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 ferrocious counter offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.”
It was learnt that the Brigadier-General was shot dead in an ambush at Bulguma, few kilometers from Askira town in Askira Uba Local Government Area alongside four other soldiers.
The troops of 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, had mobilised to provide reinforcement in Askira, which was under attack, according to one report by Daily Trust.
The troops were said to have been ambushed while on their way to provide support for the soldiers battling the insurgents.
“It’s a sad day for us at theatre of war; we lost Brigadier Commander (names withheld). The Brigade General and soldiers who were on their way to support our troops at Askira were ambushed and shot dead by ISWAP fighters. We are sad,” a security source said.
It was earlier reported that the suspected fighters of ISWAP had engaged the troops at a military base in the Askira/Uba LGA in a gun battle.
According to reports, some civilians had said they sighted the ISWAP fighters in a long convoy of gun trucks along Ngude axis towards Askira, early Saturday, claimed they reported the movement of the terrorists to security forces but no action was taken before the deadly group stormed Askira town hours later.
