How Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu Ali and four others could have averted death

New reports have emerged on how Lt Col Muhammad Abu Ali and other four soldiers were killed by Boko Haram terrorists.

Ali and four other soldiers were killed late on Friday, November 4 by Boko Haram insurgents after a fierce battle, a statement by Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman announced.

According to The Cable, a senior military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that Ali was close to leaving Mallam Fatori ahead of an army raid on Sambisa forest.

He said the gallant soldier was not in the tank when Boko Haram ambushed them.

“He was outside the tank; he was outside with his radio system. And because it was dark, nobody could exactly see the enemies who shot him.”

“The firing came from behind. When these people [Boko Haram] came, he went towards that direction to see what was happening. He was not in the tank.”

He also spoke about the death of other soldiers and that it could have been prevented if basic night equipment were available.

“You know, night attacks are always difficult.”

“If you’re going for night attacks, you need your night sight — your night vision goggle — so that you can identify your targets clearly. You know what it means to fight in the dark? Confusion. You don’t know who is who.

“But I tell you what, there are only two night vision goggles to an entire battalion. In some cases, you will even find a battalion that has no single night vision goggle.”

“Ali went to Mallam Fatori, and the while thing was successful, it was after the operation that this Boko Haram attack was launched,” the official continued.

“The army was preparing for an attack in Sambisa, so Ali was to withdraw from Mallam Fatori ahead of the Sambisa operation. He was preparing to come back when this thing happened.

“There was serious preparation, which means it would happen soon. He had already received orders to withdraw from Mallam Fatori and come for onward movement to Sambisa. It also means that if Boko Haram had delayed that attack by a few days, Ali might have left Mallam Fatori alive.”