Army authorities yesterday strongly refuted claims that over 83 soldiers, including one officer, are still missing following a Boko Haram attack on troop’s location in Gashigar, a northern Borno community close to the Niger border.
The army had reported some soldiers missing and 13 others injured after “escaping remnants of Boko Haram” fighters overran the troop’s location.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations (ADAPR), Col. Sani Usman in a statement, explained: “The troops did their best to defend the location in vain.
“In the process, 13 soldiers’ sustained injuries while some are still missing in action.”
While Usman declined to mention the number of soldiers still missing, he said efforts were on to locate and rescue them.
However, an online news portal claimed at least 83 soldiers and one officer identified as Lt. Col. K Yusuf was missing.
It further reported corruption has returned to the military as Brigade and Troops commanders usually deduct N200 from the troop’s daily food fee of N500 leaving soldier’s morale perpetually low.
In a chat with our correspondent, Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, decried unpatriotic comments about the army, which is doing its best to bring Boko Haram insurgency to an end.
“It is disgusting that this kind of story which has no source is published,” Abubakar said.
He lamented that some news portals allowed sentiments to cloud the sense of professionalism in reporting security issues.
“The question is who did they interview? Where and when? This is purely mischief as we vowed not to hid any information from our citizens.
“That’s why we give updates on daily basis. If there is anything like this it ought to come from us not an online media.”
Abubakar added: “In the past, when we had some setbacks. We reported it to our citizens.
“We are Nigerians working for our country. We love our people better than any other aliens.”
The Defence spokesperson also said Nigerian troops are the most professional and have done the country proud anywhere they are deployed.