Lt Col Abu-Ali: It's really sunset at dawn!

Can't stop crying when I heard of the brutal murder of this gentleman, Lt. Col. Abu Ali.

Only those who were in Borno at the height of the Boko Haram's inglorious territorial conquest that would understand, appreciate and then lament the exit of Lt. Col. Abu Ali. 

His was a life, full of gallantry, sacrifice, love for Nigeria and ever willing to die in order to keep it one.

Quiet, considerate, compassionate and caring, leading by example was his trademark at the height of confrontation with Boko Haram terrorists.

Late Lt. Col.  Ali was the soldier, who operated the most sophisticated of all war equipment deployed to the North East,  traversed the North, Central and Northern Borno endlessly and tirelessly;  recovered towns and liberated villages under control of the BH. 

Late Ali it was, who during the day and night, come rain come shine, stepped on countless landmines that dotted Borno's porous borders with Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria,  cleared the paths for our dear soldiers, who  rescued the weak, the kids, the women  and the old from the clutches of the Boko Haramists.

Though smallish in nature, late Ali's heart was like that of a lion, the king of the jungle; he never retreated, he never relented, he never compromised and he never gave up until the last hour.

Yes, he was, Ali the conquerer of the ambitious Abubakar Shekau's Empire.

Ali's short but eventful life will never be forgotten in the annals of Nigerian history. He came, he saw, he conquered and cleared the ruins for the next generation.

His life was  akin to that of  late General Mamman Shuwa (equally killed by BH in cold blood while in retirement), who fought the Civil War in the 60s, for us to have something known as  Nigeria today.

Ali's was a fight, the type the likes of legendary Gen. T.Y Danjuma waged for the sake of Nigeria, the giant of Africa.

Oh Ali, may Allah grant you Jannatul Firdausi, may He bless your kids and widow, cater for them and strengthen them. May Allah console your parents and your loved ones.

Indeed you're a fallen hero!

Adieu Ali
Hamza Idris (a Journalist that covers Boko Haram in North-East for Years)
Johannesburg, South Africa
6th Nov. 2016