The polity is miserably dark. Sun has set at noon. Grief and gloom are holding sway. Sighs, whys and songs of sorrow are saturating the polity. Dear readers, yours truly is penning this piece with a high dose of sadness in his heart of hearts.
After successfully marking my birthday on November 4, I was singing songs of appreciation with a croaky voice to God. Suddenly my mood changed because of a breaking news report on someone I very much hold in high esteem. From the early hours of November 5 till now, the name Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali has been trending albeit sorrowfully.
Who doesn’t know this heroic son of an ex-Governor of Bauchi State, who decided to leave the comfort of paternal affluence, to wholeheartedly serve Nigeria in the Army? Well, for the sake of readers who just arrived from planet Jupiter, Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali and six other soldiers were on the night of November 4 gunned down by Boko Haram terrorists in the Mallam Fatori area of Borno State. As the Commanding Officer of the 272 Task Force Battalion, he earlier led troops to recapture the town from insurgents.
As I ponder in sadness over the whole issue, I can’t help but thank God who deemed it necessary to have sent Abu-Ali to this part of the world. Without Abu-Ali’s heroics, Boko Haram could have wasted more precious lives in the North East. The consensus belief is that if Nigeria had up to four soldiers of Abu-Alis ilk, Boko Haram would have been eliminated by now.
Name them: Sambisa forest, Mongunu, Mubi, Yale, Gwosa, Baga, Bama, Banki Jun, Yemteke, Bita, Gamborun Ngala, Pulka, numerous communities in the Yola axis and most recently Mallam Fatori in Borno, the lion-hearted Mohammed Abu-Ali led from the front, providing covering fire for his troops.
To pen that he almost singlehandedly pushed insurgents to the brink of extinction isn’t hyperbolic, it is a school of thought that has been confirmed by his colleagues.
To pen that he almost singlehandedly pushed insurgents to the brink of extinction isn’t hyperbolic, it is a school of thought that has been confirmed by his colleagues.
Excerpts of tributes from colleagues underline it all: “In the case Baga, when it was recaptured from Boko Haram, he told us (soldiers) that we should not worry, that we should only do five percent of the job that he was going to do 95% of the job with the tanks. And that was exactly what happened. He did most of the work with the tanks.”
Another soldier adds: “Whenever the Boko Haram terrorists brought an armored tank to a gunfight, Abu Ali was always there to face them with his T-27.”
Another soldier adds: “Whenever the Boko Haram terrorists brought an armored tank to a gunfight, Abu Ali was always there to face them with his T-27.”
Another soldier declared thus: “You (Abu-Ali) were the first to enter Sambisa after you led the capture of Yemteke and Bita even when Bita became impossible. You led the advancement into Sambisa forest and rescued the first 296 women. They sent a helicopter to carry you from there for you to lead another offensive to capture Gamborun Ngala.”
Space won’t permit me to reel out more tributes from colleagues but to cap it all, a soldier revealed on twitter that during his last official assignment which was the liberation of Mallam Fatori, he encouraged troops but ended his speech saying: “Pray, stay alert and stay alive. If someone must die, let it be me.”
Such was the man whom Boko Haram has devoured in his prime. Always in the thick of action. Oh! Muhammad Ali, what a wonder you are even in death. Yours truly is awe-struck by your exploits which bear semblance to that of your namesake Muhammed Ali, the legendary pugilist who downed countless opponents with reckless abandon in the boxing ring. The Muhammed Ali of boxing was nicknamed ‘Lord of the Ring’ because of his mastery of the sport while your mastery of warfare made colleagues nickname you ‘Sarkin Yaki’ meaning Lord of War in Hausa Language.
Brother Ali, in you, I see courage. In you, I see hope. In you, I see patriotism. In you, I see love for fellow countrymen. Since the Boko Haram madness started, gory tales have been emanating. A soldier once narrated how a woman was in the process of giving birth when terrorists raided a particular community. As they (Boko Haram) came nearer and nearer shooting indiscriminately, the villagers had to flee leaving the hapless woman. And the woman was subsequently hit and killed by bullets fired by Boko Haram. Imagine a woman in the pains of labour being shot dead! God, did you actually create these beasts masquerading as human beings?
Countless weird but true tales of Boko Haram’s inhuman acts are rife. I can’t still forget the Buni-Yadi school boys who were slaughtered like rams. These are the people the late Abu-Ali staked his life for: the weak and vulnerable, those stranded in the forgotten corners of this country, the poor whose rights and natural wealth have been stolen by their leaders. These are the real friends of Abu-Ali. See, Ali’s friends are not the never-do-well politicians who are shedding crocodile tears and saturating the media with tributes ever since he died.
Lt. Col Abu-Ali, even as you lie six feet below mother earth, something tells me that you are smiling. You are satisfied that you fought a battle for the masses. Dear readers, if you are in a position to protect the vulnerable, risk it all. Hold nothing back! Methinks service to humanity is the greatest privilege and honour.
Abu-Ali played his role and bowed out gallantly. He never shied away from being the soldier of the masses. Even when many held the belief that the support given to the Army by government is superficial, Ali was undeterred. He put his life on the line. I had a conversation with a retired military officer in the city of Calabar. He reasoned that the federal government took Ali’s life for granted, anchoring his view on the fact that the Army are bereft of enough bullet proof vests and night vision goggles.
When the terrorists attacked and killed Ali in the night of November 4, he wore no bullet proof vest nor used night vision goggles which could have helped him see the Boko Haram goons from afar. Dear readers, if Ali, who was arguably Boko Haram’s number one enemy, never had access to night vision goggle and bullet proof vest, then weep for this country - this country where politicians live cozily and drive state-of-the-art automobiles while members of the armed forces suffer in the wilderness with rickety vehicles and ancient weapons, this country where politicians play politics with human lives, pad budgets, steal arms funds and resources with reckless abandon. We are aware of these anomalies!
Brother Ali, the irrefutable fact is that you did not die in vain. You died while defending the defenseless. You died a heroic death. You died for Nigerians who deserve to be protected. When politicians failed to protect the masses they claim to govern or represent, your presence often brought comfort and hope to your fellow countrymen. My consolation is that you died for the masses. You did not die for budget padding experts masquerading as legislators, do-or-die politicians etc. To be frank, they are not worth dying for!
May Almighty God recruit your soul into the Heavenly Army. See, the Heavenly Army is perfectly powerful. The weapons of the Heavenly Army are spiritually manufactured by God. Dear readers, unlike the Nigerian Army where vital information is leaked regularly to enemies, in the Heavenly Army, there are no saboteurs and informants. Unlike the poorly equipped Nigerian Army, in the Heavenly Army, God the Supreme Commander and His angels are armed to the teeth with weapons which are not carnal but mightily effective during warfare. Permit me to add that, nobody steals arms’ funds in the Heavenly Army.
Muhammad Abu-Ali, something tells me that your seeming promotion to the Heavenly Army offers you a perfect opportunity to fight Satan who is the father of Boko Haram. Boko Haram terrorists are the children of Satan. Truth is, Boko Haram are liars - they claim to be fighting for God. The God I know is not a killer!
Brother Abu-Ali, as I pen this tribute, my heart is praying for your wife and kids. May God console them. May your children grow up and see a Nigeria devoid of the circumstances we are witnessing today. They deserve to see a better Nigeria. Your children can’t afford to grow up and join fellow countrymen to live in fear of Boko Haram.
Haba! May your life be a ransom for their glorious future and safety.
I pray for soldiers. May God protect each and everyone of you. May you uproot Boko Haram in no distant time!
I pray for soldiers. May God protect each and everyone of you. May you uproot Boko Haram in no distant time!
Oh Abu-Ali, your name has been inscribed in my heart of hearts. You are my hero. I salute thee!
(Ofonime Honesty is a journalist and general affairs analyst. 08025286082 honestyofonime@yahoo.com)
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