Military sources have disclosed that suspected fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have killed a commanding officer in one of the battalions of operation Hadin Kai.
According to sources, the senior officer was killed alongside five soldiers when the insurgents attacked Rann, a town in Kala Balge LGA of Borno state on Thursday.
It was also learnt that the troops engaged the insurgents who came in their numbers, and the the gunfight lasted many hours.
About 20 ISWAP fighters were also reportedly killed by the troops.
As at the time of reportage, army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu was not immediately available to comment on the attack.
This is coming three weeks after ISWAP killed Dzarma Zirkusu, a brigadier-general and commander of the army brigade in Chibok.
Zirkusu was on his way to Askira to provide support for the troops when he was ambushed and killed.
The general was killed alongside three of his soldiers.
“Sadly, a gallant senior officer brigadier-general Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counteroffensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location,” Onyema had said in a statement.