An officer of the 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major A.G Mohammed has been killed by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Katsina State.
A security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, broke the news of his death via his X handle on Friday.
The late Mohammed was a member of Operation Hadarin Daji and the Commander overseeing military operations in the Vantumaki, Dan Ali and Kankara axes of the state.
Makama wrote, “The news of the demise of Major Ag Mohammed of 17 brigade Katsina State, Operation Hadarin DAJI is indeed heart-wrenching.
“Mohammed paid the supreme price while combating bandits in the North West of Katsina State.
“Until his death, he serves as the commander covering Yantumaki, Dan Ali and Kankara Axis. He was one of the most gallant, courageous and highly dedicated officers.”
Contacted, the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Nwachukwu Onyema, neither picked up his phone calls nor responded to text and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile number as of the time of filing this report.
However, mourning the late officer, an X user, @skonz222, recalled his experience with Mohammed at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.
He wrote, “I remember this officer when he was a Captain posted to NDA, very malicious but proper officer. He will not look at your direction but if he does, you will feel it but at the same time, you can tell that it’s just training. May his soul Rest In Peace.”
Another user, @utaan55, described Mohammed as a “gallant” officer and a “welfarist”
He wrote, “RIP oga AG Mohammed. Served with him. Gallant, welfarist to the core. A huge loss.”
In another tweet by Makama on Thursday, he explained that terrorists in Zamfara State, on Wednesday, destroyed a mast belonging to telecom operator, MTN.
He noted that the terrorists used a rocket-propelled grenade, popularly called RPG to distort communication between “the people and the response agencies.”
“Terrorists in Zamfara, yesterday, April 24, fired an RPG and destroyed the MTN network in Zurmi town in order to distort communication between the people and the response agencies,” the tweet read.
The Nigerian Army has intensified its efforts in combating banditry and terrorism, but these efforts have come at a cost. Reports indicate that the military has lost numerous soldiers in its endeavor to enhance the country’s security.
Most recently, the mutilated bodies of soldiers killed in an attack by suspected bandits in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been recovered. The soldiers were reportedly engaged in a confrontation with bandits in the Roro, Karaga, and Rumace communities of Bassa Ward in Shiroro LG.
According to a source, the soldiers had become disoriented while on a mission to confront the bandits in the forest. They were ambushed, leading to a shootout that resulted in casualties on both sides.
