My friend and class mate, and a senior officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Joel Ishaya Dagwa is used to voice call if he wanted us to exchange pleasantries. The format changed on the night of September 22, 2020, when he resorted to communicate with me through a text. It was not abnormal; however the text was terse; as he wanted me to direct my searchlight on the death of a son of the soil from Gudus in Bashar of Wase local government area of Plateau State.

The request to write about a certain Col Dahiru C Bako who was killed September 20, 2020 by Boko Haram extremists in an ambush on their convoy sent me thinking on what the military has gone through over the years. I didn’t know if I should accept the challenge; as I never knew him from Adam, neither have I met the military officer before, so also was he. That put me in a quandary of how I could source information about him.

That day, ‘under his able leadership, the troops cleared the ambush resulting to the killing of scores of terrorists and recovery of weapons and equipment. Sadly however, he was wounded in action and immediately evacuated by the Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole to the 7 Division Hospital at Maimalari Cantonment’. Reports had it that he was recuperating well after a successful operation at the hospital. He said ‘his prayers in the early hours of this morning before his sad passing at the hospital’.

Whatever you are reading may have been picked from a number of sources; but more importantly from the fact that a blow has been unleashed on us having had a number of army personnel as well as ordinary Nigerians cut short by the guns of the extremists. One of the sources and his school mate at Government Science School, Kuru, Nehemiah Gagara, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Assembly Service Commission would hide nothing concerning the antecedence of the slain officer; who early enough in life exhibited the character of the person he wanted to be right from school. Knowing that therefore gave me a lead as to where to begin. He left Kuru in 1982.

It was good he did, otherwise the news of those who were killed during a clearance led by him in the Sabon Gari-Wajiroko axis of Damboa would have been read like any other; and most probable many of us may not have known that the senior military officer who was among the dead is from Wase in Plateau State. His death is an addition to the growing number of the casualties that have been harvested since 2009; when the insurgency started in Borno.

Nigerians may be quick to bravery, that gallantly defended part of northern Borno State, ‘whenever the Boko Haram terrorists brought an amoured tank to gunfire, Abu Ali was always there to face them with his T-27’. He became the ‘Sarkin Yaki’ to many as a result of his bravery.

In September 2015, as a result of his ‘courageous performance in a series of the army’ engagements with Boko Haram’ he was granted accelerated promotion from the rank of Major to Lieutenant-Colonel. Earlier in February 2015, he had led a team of the Nigeria army to recapture Baga from the control of terrorists, a feat that was celebrated by Nigerians who knew how hard the military fought in that encounter.

He was reported to have been killed on November 4, 2016 while preparing for a Sambisa operation ‘suspected Boko Haram terrorists who attacked 119 Battalion, Nigerian army location at Mallam Fatori’ led to his death. While in the line of duty, he was quoted to have always told his troops: ‘Pray, stay alert and stay alive. If someone must die, let it be me’.

It is on record that ‘Abu Ali served the nation with’ all in him ‘and paid the supreme price by laying down his life for the peace of the country, and will be remembered for his sacrifice and commitment to the cause of the Nigerian Army to rid the country of insurgency which has been a source of concern to everyone’.

Similarly, Col Dahiru C Bako had a clear history of bravery. His death, in many respects shook the army, the government and people of Borno State and many more who have become acquainted with his exploits. 

Governor Babagana Zulum, who has escaped being killed by the insurgents repeatedly offered consoling words about the death of Col Bako: ‘Late Col. Bako was a man dearly loved by many people. He was a gallant soldier who inspired his troops and led them to frontlines with a lot of courage that was clearly out of pure patriotism. Bako was a man who fought hard and very well. He defeated many enemies of peace and protected our people to the point that he gave his life defending the people.

About the death of Col Bako, Governor Zulum noted that ‘the deaths of our heroes, sad as they are shows confidence in the strong will exhibited by them, that defending our country comes first in everything. We will forever be grateful to late Col. Bako and everyone like him’.

It has been said by those who are aware of his exploits that the late Colonel was a gallant and dogged officer under whose command Damboa was never defeated by the Boko Haram terrorists. Even at that, he ‘remained resolute, careful and committed in discharging his duties and had contributed immensely to the fight against insurgency in the north east’, a zone that has accounted for several thousands of human and material casualties.

Borno and Yobe States were said to have been stabilized due largely to his bravery. No wonder, given the sacrifice he had made in the course of his tour of duty, the government of Borno State announced that a befitting house for the family of the deceased officer to ensure their comfort; as well as the sum N20 million to support the welfare needs of the deceased family were made. This is apart from the fact that the Nigerian Army is providing scholarship for his children.

If there was more to be heard about the late Colonel, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had enough words to describe what Nigeria had missed in his death having been described ‘as a gallant and fearless officer whose sacrifice would forever be remembered’ as he had been active in the fight against insurgency from different fronts in the North East theatre of operation.

The outpouring of emotions and tributes by the Chief of Army Staff, who led other top officers and the commanders while the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Sen. Ali Ndume was in company of the governor among other dignitaries meant that it was a significant loss to the nation. He was indeed also nicknamed ‘Sarkin Yaki’ by his colleagues and those that might have worked with him over the years.

Few days after the loss Nigerian troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole responded by eliminating top commanders and fighters of Boko Haram terrorists in their various camps at the fringes of Lake Chad in Kukawa Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno. Their names were given as Abu Usman, Alhaji Shettima, Modu Mainok, Bukar Gana, Abu Summayya, Amir Taam and Amir Kuraish. The troops destroyed several camps used by the terrorists located at Tunbun Gini, Tunbun Nbororo, Tunbun Kayoma, Tunbun Kaza and Tunbun Fulani during the operation.

It was not surprising therefore that he was entrusted with the task of heading a Brigade as Colonel. It speaks volumes of the demonstration of his capacities; having been able to liberate a number of towns, while capturing several terrorists.

Again, in the words of Zulum: I liked late Col. Bako and so did many people. Bako was a true soldier who inspired his troops and led them to front lines with exceptional courage that was clearly out of pure patriotism. He fought very hard and very well. He defeated many enemies of peace and protected many sons and daughters of Borno State to the extent he gave his life defending the people of Borno. By the grace of God, the supreme sacrifices made by Col. Bako and many other heroes like him in the armed forces and volunteers shall not be in vain.

Their deaths would not have been in vain. ‘The death of our heroes, sad as it is, only reinforces our confidence in the strong will exhibited by our gallant troops and volunteers that defending our country comes ahead of everything’.

 Yet, it should not be hastily forgotten that Col Bako was indeed one out of many officers and men who paid the supreme price in order that insurgency can be brought to an end. For all those who have made considerable sacrifice; these heroic soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty deserve to be honoured. Indeed, if these deaths awaken us, it is about time they are given their dues and treated as the heroes that they are.