Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Muhammad Abu Ali honored today
Today, Nigeria honors her heroes winning battles against criminality, banditry and insurgency.
In almost two decades of polity in Nigeria, the country has been variously shaken to the foundation by incessant attacks by criminal and terrorist elements depriving the country of her peace and security.
In September, 2015, the name that came on everyone’s lips was the name of a Lieutenant Colonel who quietly has executed the killings of several Boko Haram terrorists. The name of this courageous army chief is Muhammad Abu Ali.
Not so many had heard about him prior to 2015: he was the officer given rapid promotion from the rank of major to lieutenant-colonel in September, 2015.
He is known for his courage and tenacity, even in the face of stiff battle. He showed outstanding and courageous performance in various army’s engagement with Boko Haram.
He got his first promotion following his success in armed forces’ fiercest-ever confrontation with Boko Haram in February 2015, when he played a vital and leading role in reclaiming of Baga from the terrorist group.
Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Another memorable success saw his official decoration was delayed until September 2015, after he successfully recaptured Gamboru from the insurgents.
Amidst his official decoration, he was praised by the-then Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who commended his “courage, bravery and exceptional performance in the fight against the Boko Haram Terrorist.”
Buratai’s opinion was seconded by great number of soldiers, majority of whom have earned degraded names for regularly being in the mood of criticizing army hierarchy, show Ali tremendous respect for his professionalism.
Mirror In The Sun
There has always been hardline in the army’s public relations tactic, a distaste is apparent within soldiers and officers who directly took part in the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ (peace by force) in Borno State.
Ali’s exceptional military prowess, good work and integrity require no trumpet; they always find their own stand in the public.
During recent examination trip to the war zone, the first mention of Ali came when a sergeant about crude equipment and archaic manner with which the army was prosecuting the war.
“Yes, the problem is that the Nigerian army still has this archaic idea of fighting, relying more in the numerical strength of its troops rather than on equipment,” he had said.
“There is nowhere in the world, a civilised or modernised army, where they want to lose soldiers in large numbers again, and that is where you need these equipment.
“If you have good equipment, it will reduce the number of casualties on your side but if the weapons are not there and you want to use the number of your soldiers, then definitely you are going to suffer casualties.”
Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day
He then gave the examples of recovery of Baga, but credited the success of the operation to Ali’s brilliance even when it was obvious that he was not, initially, considering to praise the officer.
“In the case of tanks, what one tank can do, 200 soldiers cannot do it; 300 soldiers cannot do it if the tank is functional and serviceable,” he said.
“In the case Baga, when it was recaptured from Boko Haram, the officer who led that operation, Abu Ali, a major at the time, told the soldiers that they should not worry, that they 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. He was a major at that time and his promotion after the operation was automatic because he performed very well. One smallish guy like that o.
“After they recaptured Baga, the soldiers were so happy that they raised him up, telling the president to elevate him to the status of colonel, not even lieutenant-colonel, because he really performed; he tried. Even recent operations in Sambisa Forest, he led some of them.”
Regarded By Fellow Colleagues In The Army
Ali’s promotion was a decision not only made by the chief of army staff or the rest of the army−it was backed by all soldiers.
According to a military officer who witnessed his “leadership quality” in Baga, and other two who were present with him in Sambisa, were “very happy for him.”
“He led us with the T-72 when we advanced to Monguno and Baga, and he collected those places,” he said.
According to Wikipedia, the T-72 is a Soviet second-generation main battle tank that entered production in 1971.
About 20,000 T-72 tanks were built, making it one of the most widely produced post-World War II tanks, second only to the T-54/55 family.
There are, at least, three upgrades to the tank, the most famous happened in 1988 and 1995, respectively−although, these are not presently available in Nigeria.
Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Second soldier who commended Ali’s virtues said: “After he collected those places [Baga and Monguno] in 2015, they brought someone else to replace him and they took him to Sambisa area; we went with him to Sambisa.
“He is a brilliant fighter. When he began hanging his promotion emblem officially on September 9, we were together on that day and we were all very happy for him.”
Third officer, who had been with him in Sambisa, went as deep as pricing him as a prospective helmsman of the army: “The man is very active; very active. And he is a very calm and intelligent person.
“He doesn’t brag, he knows his job and he is very simple.
“He is a future chief of army staff, if I may say, but he has to be wary of the corruption that is the shortcoming of many good hands in the army.”
Just Like His Father
It is so exciting to know that Muhammed Abu Ali is the son of Colonel Abu Ali, who became the governor of Bauchi State between August, 1990 to January, 1992 during the military rule of Ibrahim Babangida.
As Ali is going, it is not easy for anyone to bet against the young Ali exceeding his father’s success and achievement.
The thought of everyone acquainted with him was: “He is already a lieutenant-colonel and if he continue his onslaught on Boko Haram terrorists, it would not be long before he get another promotion to the rank of colonel, the rank last attained by his father before retirement.
“The future is bright for anti-insurgency Ali. From the moment on, anything is possible as we continue to hope the best for him.”
But unfortunately, he was taken away from us. One of the bright lights in the Nigerian Army was deemed and hope shattered.
Hearts of many lovers of Abu Ali broke following the announcement of his passing on 4th November, 2016. He was born 15th August 1980 and died on 4th November, 2016, in Borno.
Rest In Peace.
Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day