The Nigerian army has lost another outstanding soldier in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the North East. He is Munir M. Hassan, a Captain.
According to Ahmad Salkida, a journalist who has covered the Boko Haram insurgency over the years, Hassan was killed on Friday during an offensive against the insurgents, alongside some other soldiers.
Salkida said Hassan belonged in the class of the late Abu Ali, the brave Army Colonel who was killed in battle in November 2016.
“The ongoing ‘Operation Deep Punch,’ the NA (Nigerian Army) lost some personnel amongst whom is Capt MM Hassan of the artillery corps based in Damboa,” Salkida tweeted on Sunday.
“He was a brave, disciplined and a highly motivated Officer; that earned him the title — Sarkin Yakin Damboa by colleagues and the civil population.
“Capt Hassan was killed two days ago. His end is ‘being mourned all over the theatre’ as he was always assigned ‘difficult tasks’ to different areas to assist soldiers.
“Military sources confirm the insurgents are witnessing ‘unprecedented pressure’, with the operation Deep Punch.
“He is in the same league with Col. Abu Ali. Capt. MM Hassan is a soldier’s soldier. His colleagues pay tribute and local residents described him as ‘kind and humble’.”
Nigerian Army Loses Another Outstanding Soldier in Damoboa. “He is in the same league with Col. Abu Ali.””Capt. MM Hassan is a soldier’s soldier.” His colleagues pay tribute and local residents described him as “kind and humble.” pic.twitter.com/vh6SkwokOp
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) January 7, 2018
The ongoing ‘Operation Deep Punch,’ the NA lost some personnel amongst whom is Capt MM Hassan of the artillery corps based in Damboa. He was a brave, disciplined and a highly motivated Officer, that earned him the title – Sarkin Yakin Damboa by colleagues and the civil populatn.
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) January 7, 2018
Capt Hassan was killed two days ago. His end is “being mourned all over the theatre” as he was always assigned “difficult tasks to different areas to assist soldiers.” Military sources confirm the insurgents are witnessing “unprecedented pressure, with the operation Deep Punch.”
— Ahmad Salkida (@ContactSalkida) January 7, 2018
The Army has not issued an official statement on the current development, though pictures of Friday’s attack on the insurgents were shared on its Twitter handle.
The army described the operation as recording tremendous successes, but it said nothing about the casualty toll on its side.
“Gallant troops a dealt decisive blow on the Boko Haram terrorists by inflicting heavy casualty on them and capturing the … high calibre weapons and equipment from the Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa Forest,” the army tweet read.
PHOTO NEWS:
Nigerian troops on Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the ongoing Operation DEEP PUNCH II have been recording tremendous successes. Yesterday night, Friday 5th January 2018, pic.twitter.com/19dHQ7hO2s— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) January 6, 2018