Boko Haram: Defence Minister mourns gallant army commander

Lt. Col Ali (right), a recipient of the Chief of Army Staff Award for exceptional bravery and excellence.

The Minister of Defence, retired Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, has described the death of Lt-Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali as tragic and unfortunate development in the theatre of operations in the North East.
Abu-Ali was killed by the Boko Haram
terrorists in their failed attack to capture Malam Fatori in northern Borno on Friday.
The minister in a statement issued by his Public Relations Officer, Col. Tukur Gusau, on Sunday also described the late Abu-Ali as a major pillar in the war against terrorism and insurgency in the region.
Dan-Ali, who said he received the death of officer with sadness, prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the “war hero an eternal rest”.

The minister also commiserated with the father of the deceased officer, Etsu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom in Kogi, retired Brig-Gen Abu-Ali, his family and the Nigerian Army.
Until his death Abu-Ali was the Commanding Officer of 272 Task Force Battalion at Malam Fatori.
He was nicknamed “Sarkin Yaki” in Hausa language (literally war chief) and led the army unit that recaptured Gamboru-Ngala, Baga and several communities from the terrorists in 2014.