By Hamza Suleiman
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has lauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for their stubborn defence of Kukawa town against a large-scale Boko Haram insurgents’ attack.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the troops of Sector 3 Multi-National Joint Task Force and Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) successfully repelled the attempted insurgents’ advance, leading to a significant blow against them.
Prof. Usman Tar, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Maiduguri yesterday.
He explained that Zulum received a cheerful and heart-warming briefing on the military’s successful defence of Kukawa town.
Tar said that officers and men of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with Air Component, successfully coordinated a repulsion of a large column of Boko Haram insurgents that attempted to invade Kukawa town.
The commissioner said that buoyed by the recent attack on Kareto on November 16, the enemy mistakenly assumed that they could attack other locations and get away without response.
He said, “The terrorists came to Kukawa riding on motorcycles clad with assault rifles and RPGs. Cursory to the military’s onslaught, the insurgents attacked from the main Gudumbali axis gate and crossed defensive trenches.
“Working on actionable intelligence, gallant troops of 19 Brigade Cross, Kauwa, and 403 Amphibious Brigade, Baga, mobilised to counter the attack.
“The adversary met its Waterloo at the battlefield. The Nigerian Air Force provided close air support that was well-coordinated and efficient.”
According to him, the interim battle impact assessment revealed that many of the insurgents were killed.
“Our gallant troops and CJTF were able to confiscate a significant number of motorbikes and vehicles while inflicting fatal harm on the insurgents.
“Governor Zulum was also informed, on a sad note, that our troops encountered a minor casualty: two CJTF personnel were injured but not fatal; four Nigerian Army fatalities, and one civilian, Masa Mallam Abba Zaraye, was also struck by a stray bullet.
“This is painful, but the fatal destruction of the enemy consoles us. Given this, Governor Zulum salutes our gallant troops over this spectacular battle success,” the commissioner said.
He also thanked the administration led by President Bola Tinubu for providing strategic leadership, direction, and support to the armed forces in performing their constitutional duty of defending the country.
Zulum also expressed heartfelt sympathy to those who lost their lives or incurred injuries.
He, however, cautioned that, despite the battle’s success, “our gallant troops should be guided by the rules of engagement in asymmetric struggle.
“Indeed, the Nigerian Armed Forces’ efforts are admirable, but I hasten to admonish our troops to be vigilant and not to be carried away by this momentary success.
“They should watch out for retaliatory attack by the insurgents and respond with decisive force.”
Zulum called on citizens to continue supporting the armed forces with actionable intelligence to help them counter “our collective threats.”
