The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has raised the alarm that terrorists loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province, (ISWAP), are regrouping in the Lake Chad Basin axis.
Ndume, who represents Borno-South in the 9th Senate, raised the alarm in an interview with newsmen yesterday while reacting to the attacks on Askira, in Borno State by ISWAP fighters on Saturday.
Recall that a Brigadier-General, along with some soldiers and many terrorists were killed during a confrontation with Nigerian troops, who battled to avert an attack by the insurgents.
Brig-Gen. Dzarma Zirkusu, who was the Commander of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, was on a re-inforcement mission to Askira, in Borno-South, which was under siege by terrorists when he was ambushed.
Senator Ndume commiserated with the Nigerian Army over the incident and hailed Brig-Gen. Zirkusu as a gallant soldier, who took the fight to the terrorists.
He said, “They know that the General was the major obstacle to their operation. They laid an ambush and rammed a bomb-laddened car into his vehicle”.
“He was a gallant soldier. He took the fight to the terrorists. His death has sent panic to people in that area”, he added.
He said though the troops had been taking out key ISWAP commanders in Borno, the intensity of the attack on Askira was worrisome and urged other security agencies to give the Nigerian Army the needed support.
The lawmaker also urged residents around the Chibok area to be calm and not relocate, assuring that the Nigerian Army has what it takes to take the fight to the insurgents.
