How ISWAP fighters invaded Askira Uba town in gun trucks, kill Brig- General, troops, after 8 hours battle

By our reporter/ The Nigerian army on Saturday confirmed the killing of Brigadier General, Dzarma Zirkusu and three other soldiers by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The brigadier-general and the soldiers were ambushed while heading to Askira to provide support for the troops on the ground in Askira Uba LGA of Borno state.

According to sources who witnessed the invasion by the insurgents, they invaded Askira in Askira-Uba LGA of Borno with no less than ten gun trucks around 9am on Saturday.

The attack took residents by surprise as they scampered for safety as this was the first time insurgents accessed the town.

“After the insurgents invaded the town, they started shooting sporadically to announce their presence,” one of the sources said.

The insurgents, according to him, destroyed a telecommunication mast and a truck that was being used for the construction of boreholes and other public facilities in the town.

The insurgents, in the attack that lasted for more than eight hours, looted food items in shops and burnt some buildings and vehicles in the town.

While the attack was going on, two helicopters of the Nigerian army were mobilised to the area to assist the ground troops of the 28 task force brigade.

Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the gallant officers lost their lives in a fierce encounter that was still raging at the time of issuing the statement.

“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 combat trucks, two A-29 artillery weapons, two dragon combat vehicles and nine gun trucks,” the statement reads.

“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 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.”

Brigadier-General Zirkusu was said to be in charge of the operation against insurgents in Askira, Chibok, Madagali and other neighbouring towns.