ISWAP terrorists killed General Zirkusu, 3 soldiers in Asira Uba *Troops neutralized several terrorists in revenge

The Nigerian Army has  confirmed the dead of a gallant senior officer Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers in combat in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu stated in a statement that the officer and three others “paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a  counter offensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location.” 

He said 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 ferocious counter offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.

Nwachukwu said troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI have neutralized several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during the encounter  in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. 

“In the fierce encounter which is still raging as at the time of filling this report, troops supported by the Air Component of OPHK have deployed five A – Jet, two A-29, two Dragon combat with which they destroyed nine Gun Trucks and One APC,

Meanwhile,the Directorate of Army Public Relations said it has been notified of an online story making the rounds, with the caption, “Defence Headquarters warns soldiers against overthrowing Buhari’s regime” published on November 13, 2021 by a certain online news medium dubbed “Naija News House”. 

It said that “the said publication, which was riddled with outrageous lies and fabrications claimed  that the “Defence Headquarters has denounced a call for the military to take over the reins of power”. The online outlet went further to attribute its falsehood to “Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu”.

The directorate said that “the only reason why this grossly unprofessional and blatantly irresponsible report is receiving any attention is the attribution of the false statement to the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu. The authors of the story must be the only news reporters who do not know that Army Spokesman does not speak for the Defence Headquarters.

“However, for the sake of clarity and to keep the records straight, we wish to state that at no time did the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu issue any statement on the subject matter. It is therefore a figment of their imagination, which did not in anyway emanate from Brig Gen Nwachukwu. 

“In any case, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army do not need to be “warned against overthrowing Buhari’s government” as their loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces has never been in doubt. 
“The Nigerian Army is a reputable national and patriotic institution that has fully subordinated herself to civil authority, having stood  unwaveringly in defence of the nation’s democracy. 
The NA will continue to be steadfast in defending Nigeria’s constitution and the much cherished democracy by  providing aid to the civil authority, whenever it is called upon to so do.