According to Vanguard News on November 15, 2016 , A senior Nigerian Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel B.U. Umar, has been killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents, marking another tragic loss for the military in its fight against terrorism.
According to reports, Umar, who recently assumed command of the 114 Task Force Battalion, was attacked on Monday morning while traveling with his troops between Bita and Piridang in Borno State. His vehicle reportedly struck an improvised explosive device (IED). Though he initially survived the blast, insurgents opened fire when he stepped out to assess the damage, fatally wounding him.
The soldiers were en route to Yola in Adamawa State when the incident occurred. The full casualty count from the attack remains unclear, but sources confirm that several troops were involved.
Lt. Col. Umar was a graduate of the 48th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and had only taken over leadership of the battalion three weeks prior.
This attack comes just days after another senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Abu‑Ali, was killed alongside his men in a separate Boko Haram ambush. That earlier clash left 14 insurgents and four soldiers dead, according to military reports.
Despite ongoing negotiations between the federal government and Boko Haram, which recently secured the release of 21 of the kidnapped Chibok girls, the insurgents continue to launch deadly assaults across the northeast.