Nigerian Army reportedly loses another prominent soldier to Boko Haram
Multiple unconfirmed reports are making the rounds that another prominent soldier, Lieutenant Col B.U Umar has lost his life to a Boko Haram attack in Mallam Fatori, Borno state barely a week after one of Nigerian Army’s most gallant soldiers, Lt. Col Muhammed Abu-Ali died in an ambush by the sect.
Umar, a commanding officer of 114 TF battalion of the Nigerian Army was reportedly ambushed alongside members of his troop yesterday between Bita and Piridang.
An unnamed army source who confirmed the development said his “vehicle stepped on an improvised explosive device, but he was not hurt. He came out to assess the damage on the vehicle and Boko Haram opened fire and killed him in the process.”
The source further added that the soldiers were on their way to Yola, Adamawa State from Bita in Borno State when they were attacked.
Umar, who reportedly took over the command of the 114 battalion about three weeks ago, was a member of the 48 Regular Course in the Nigeria Defence Academy.
The Nigerian Army is yet to officially confirm Umar’s reported demise.
Recently, some top army officials expressed concerns about the increasing spate of kidnaps and killings of soldiers by Boko Haram, attributing it to the Federal Government’s negotiation tactics in securing the release of Chibok girls.
