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Army commander killed as Nigerian troops repel Boko Haram attack

Xinhua, November 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Nigerian army commander died in action while fighting Boko Haram insurgents who launched an attack on a military formation in the northeastern state of Borno on Friday, army spokesman Sani Usman said Saturday.

Usman said the deceased army officer, a Lieutenant Colonel, was the commanding officer of the 272 Task Force Tank Battalion, was killed as troops fought gallantly to repel an attack launched by Boko Haram on the location of 119 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Malam Fatori area of Borno State.

The troops also lost four soldiers while four others sustained varying degrees of injury in a gunfight with the Boko Haram insurgents, he told Xinhua.

Barely two months ago, the late army commander was given an accelerated promotion from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel, for his "exceptional bravery and gallantry" in fighting Boko Haram.

Usman said troops are intensifying efforts to mop up Nigeria's northeastern region, most hit by a seven-year insurgency by Boko Haram.

The Nigerian government has launched several military operations over the past months to eliminate the insurgent group. Endit