Army ready to probe Abu-Ali’s death

The Nigerian Army might be making arrangements to probe the death of the Commander of the 272 Special Forces Tanks Battalion, Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali, and six of his men in a Boko Haram attack at Mallam Fatori on November 4, 2016.

The six military men were Sgt. Mu’Azu Ibrahim, Sgt. Hussain Jafaru, Sgt. Bassey Okon, Cpl. Chukwu Simon, Able Seaman Patrick Paul and Prt. Salisu Lawal.

COAS Gen Tukur Buratai, who struggled with tears to read a funeral oration for the fallen warriors, had told his men that the circumstances surrounding the death of the soldiers would be probed.

The late officer and his men had helped in recovering of territories formerly under the control of Boko Haram, which include Monguno, Baga, New Marte, Bama, Gwoza, Banki Junction, Gamboru Ngala, Yale, Yemteke, Bitam, Doronaira, Kagarwa, Ärrege, Abadam and Mallam Fatori.

It was gathered that troops in the operational area, who were saddened by the death of the officer and their colleagues, had alleged possible internal sabotage.

Sabotage has become an issue lately in the counterterrorism op going on. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, had said in a statement on October 5, 2016 that 32 persons were in custody for alleged sabotage of the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the North-East.

Usman had said that the suspect included two officers, two soldiers, two policemen and 26 civilians, who were being probed.

It was learnt that as part of the efforts to rid the Army of saboteurs, the authorities were holding a Major and a Captain as fallout of the Boko Haram attack on troops location at Gashigar on October 22, 2016.

A top military personnel said a total of 39 soldiers went missing during the attack in which 13 soldiers were injured while a large number of the troops later returned to base with no loss of life recorded.

Buratai was said to have been especially angry that some of the soldiers, who were found along the nation’s border with Niger Republic, were with guns whose magazines were loaded.