Army Colonel Killed In ISWAP Ambush Will Be Mourned By 5-Year-Old Son, Wife, Others

The family of Colonel Kenneth Eze Elemele has been thrown into mourning following his death in an ambush by members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Wednesday.

Elemele, who until his death was the Chief of Staff of the 29 Taskforce Brigade, was killed alongside five other members of his team in the Jakana area of Borno State while on transit from Damaturu to Maiduguri.

The late Colonel left behind a wife and four kids, including a five-year-old son. 

Family members who took to social media to mourn Elemele, described him as a “very private” army officer. This explains why he had no presence on social media.

Others who knew the late colonel have been mourning him on social media.

Justin Ijeh wrote on his Facebook page: “From way back at International Secondary School PHC; he was Senior Eze. One of the smaller ones in stature…but one of the kindest of a menacing and generally gigantic crop of seniors back then. Soft spoken but firm.

“When I saw him last year at our school reunion, it was the same Senior Eze… but with a ‘presence’,” said Ijeh.

Another Facebook user, Wale Iyaniwura wrote: “He was a friend to a brother of mine. His (first) son will pass out at Airforce secondary school, Iyana Offa, Ibadan, tomorrow 19-7-2019 (today).”

Among the soldiers said to have also lost their lives in the ambush was an Army captain.

Colonel Elemele hailed from Omoku in Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA of Rivers State.

Confirming the incident on Friday, Nigerian Army said “a Colonel and a Captain as well as three soldiers on transit from Maiduguri to Damaturu ran into an ambush staged by the fleeing terrorists from the Jakana axis, which led to their unfortunate death.”

The incident was confirmed in a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Isa Ado.