Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali, being decorated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai at Gamboru Ngala on 9th September 2015 during an operational visit

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has described the death of Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu Ali as a tragic and unfortunate development in the theatre of operations against the Boko Haram insurgents.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer to the Minister, Col. Tukur Gusau, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Gusau said the minister received the sad news of the death of Lt.-Col. Abu Ali, while in Sokoto and prayed Allah to grant the war Hero an eternal rest.

He said the minister also described the late Lt.- Col. Abu Ali as a major Pillar in the war against insurgency and terrorism in the North-East.

The minister expressed his condolence to the Father of the deceased, the Etsu of Bassa-Nge Kingdom in Kogi, retired Brig.-Gen. Abu-Ali, his young family and the Nigerian Army.

NAN recalls that Lt.-Col. Abu Ali died during confrontation with suspected Boko Haram insurgents who attacked 119 Battalion, Nigerian Army location at Mallam Fatori, Borno, on Friday, in a failed attempt to capture the town.

Until his death, Col. Ali was the Commanding Officer, 272 Task Force Battalion at Mallam Fatori in Northern Borno.(NAN)