By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz, Regional Correspondent
Nigerian Army Colonel and veteran of the decade’s long military campaign against Boko Haram was killed in an ambush on September 21.
Colonel Dahiru Bako died from injuries sustained when his team encountered a prolonged ambush laid by the Boko Haram splinter faction recognized as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The armour officer by training, was the Brigade Commander 25 Task Force Brigade based in the Army Super Camp 2 in Damboa local government, about 85 kilometres south-west of Borno state capital Maiduguri.
Colonel Bako was widely respected by soldiers for his bravery and leading troops in the frontline including in battles in dreaded Alagarno forest.
In March 2019, During a routine redeployment of Nigerian Army officers and unit commanders, the Army headquarter retained Colonel Bako in sector 2 operation Lafiya Dole and subsequently made him the Chief of Staff.
The former Governor of Yobe state In January 2016, praised Colonel Bako for his exploits against Boko Haram, as commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in Yobe State.
He described him as a professional and committed officer who epitomizes the fight against insurgency in the state.
“Across Yobe State, people are very excited with the work that Col Boko has done. Many people here associate the successes recorded against Boko Haram to the hard work of Colonel Bako and other army commanders” Gaidam said.
Bako was promoted to a Colonel in December 2014 while serving with the 27 Task Force Brigade before he was appointed as commander.
In September 2012, then lieutenant colonel Bako was in charge of troops of 233 Battalion deployed to Yobe State, as part of the military buildup to support the joint task force campaign against Boko Haram.
….Your Excuses No Longer Tenable -Borno Elders Warn Service Chiefs
In a related development, the North East leaders, under the aegis of Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development have lamented the activities of Boko Haram.
The Chairman of CNEEPD, Zana Goni, in a statement titled, ‘We are tired of excuses, sack Service Chiefs now,’ warned that the excuses being tendered by the Service Chiefs” were no longer tenable.
They demanded decisive actions to end Boko Haram terrorism in the country.
The statement reads partly, “The worsening security situation in the country is further reinforcing the urgent need to inject new hands with fresh ideas to handle the nation’s security architecture. We have seen that the security situation under the current service chiefs has reached an unbearable state.
“There is no denying the fact that at this moment, the entire nation is distressed by the incessant mindless killing of our citizens and pillaging of defenseless communities by insurgents, bandits and kidnappers. There is no denying the fact also that these have resulted to indescribable agony, anguish and torment to the Nigerian citizens.
“And following these mentioned above, we, the Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development, in the strongest terms, restate the call to President Muhammadu Buhari to honor the resolution of the National Assembly and positions of majority of Nigerians to immediately remove the service chiefs and bring in new hands to effectively confront the security challenges staring us in our face as a nation.”
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