The Nigerian Army has said that its troops, deployed to 119 Battalion, were attacked by members of Boko Haram sect at Malam Fatori in northern Borno, on Friday, October 4, 2016.

According to the spokesman for the Army, Col. Sani Usman, during the encounter, the troops lost one officer and four soldiers.

Undaunted by the lost, the troops fought gallantly, repelled the attack and killed 14 Boko Haram terrorists.

The name of the officer that died in action was Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu Ali, the Commanding Officer of 272 Task Force Tank Battalion.

Usman said that four other soldiers sustained various degrees of injury during the encounter.

His words: “It will be recalled that because of the late senior officer’s exceptional bravery and gallantry, he was given an accelerated promotion from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel and was decorated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at Gamboru Ngala on Sept. 9, 2015, during an operational visit.”

He, however, said that the troops recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun, seven AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.

The Army spokesperson added that mopping up and exploitation are still ongoing.