The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • Tight security in Maiduguri as COAS conference kicks off

    Borno CP appeals to resident to cheer Mr. President from far

    We will divert traffic

    Maiduguri metropolis and its environs have been placed under heavy security ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is billed  to declared the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference open in Maiduguri tomorrow.

    The conference which was earlier  scheduled to hold in Edo State was shifted to Maiduguri, Borno State with the president expected to open the conference on 28 Wednesday, November, 2018 at the Command Guest House Maimalari Barracks.

    In a bid to ensure a successful visit of the president to Borno State which is the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency, security measures have been put in place for adequate security to avoid any embarrassing attack by the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The heavy presence of security in the metropolis is a clear indication of the measure put in place by the security forces.

    Borno State Police Commissioner Damaian Chukwu in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Maiduguri informed that his men have put everything in place to ensure that the president visit to Maiduguridoes not witness any ugly incident.

    The CP disclosed that traffic will be diverted from the major route in the metropolis that the president motorcade will move through.

    Read Also: Ayade, COAS launch Operation Crocodile Smile III

    CP Chukwu also appeal to residents and lovers of the president not to come close to his motorcade in attempt to cheering him but that they should do that in a distance.

    His words: ”When Mr. President is said to be coming, it’s our responsibility to ensure that adequate security is provided. It is true he is coming for a military event but the military have promptly alerted us to enlighten the public that we have a very serious role to play. That role has to do with ensuring free flow of traffic before and during the visit of Mr. President and the route that he will follow.

    “I am reliably informed that the president will be landing at the air force base airstrip close to the general airport and move to the Shehu’s palace on a courtesy call and interact with international institutions and later move to Baga road to Maimalari Barrack where he would attend the Chief of Army Staff Conference and from there return to the airforce base and take off to Abuja.

    “We know that the president is a politician and people must come out to cheer him but we are appealing that people should do that from afar and should not come close to the his motorcade for security reasons. We are going to deploy personal on the long stretch of the rout and there will be diversion of traffic but the road will not be closed.

    “I have directed one of my DPOs to meet with the Baga market people to suspend normal activities at the area at least within three hours of the president’s visit. As you know, the Baga market area is very rowdy and we don’t have to take chances around that area so we are appealing to the traders to please cooperate with us to ensure a hitch free visit of Mr. President to Borno State.

    “We are not focusing on the road alone but across the metropolis and its environs. My man are going to begin an aggressive patrol on through the night to fish out any suspicious elements that will intend to frustrate the visit, CP Chukwu informed.

  • Buhari cancels “casual leave’’

    President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his planned five-day “casual leave’’ as a mark of respect for victims of Boko Haram attacks across the battlefields in the Northeast zone of the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the President had planned to spend the casual leave at his home country, Daura, Katsina State from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

    The president, according to News Agency of Nigeria, had earlier cancelled his official trip to Benin City, Edo, where he was initially billed to inaugurate the Edo-Azura Power Plant and grace the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that already the advanced teams of the president, who left Abuja for Katsina and Benin on Sunday, had been asked to return.

    News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the cancellation of the trips would also enable the president to continue his ongoing meetings and consultations with relevant security and intelligent community aimed at addressing the nation’s security challenges.

    However, the president is expected to declare the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, which was moved from Benin City to Maiduguri, Borno, on Nov. 28 at the Government House Conference Hall (CGH).

    President Buhari’s aide on New Media, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad, had on Sunday confirmed this development on his tweeter handle.

    He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the COAS Annual Conference on Nov. 28, 2018 at the Conference Hall CGH in Maiduguri, Borno state.

    “The conference was earlier scheduled to take place from 26 -28 November 2018 in Benin, Edo state.

    News Agency of Nigeria also gathered that the shifting of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference from Benin City to Maiduguri might not be unconnected with the killing of Nigerian soldiers at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad.

    Read Also: Buhari to Oyetola: Rule with the fear of God

    News Agency of Nigeria learnt that President Buhari would use the opportunity of the COAS conference to address the Nigerian soldiers at the battlefields to further boost their morale.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari had on Sunday presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

    In a tweet in Abuja on Sunday, the President’s aide on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

    “All the Service Chiefs, I-G of Police and DG of DSS were at the State House this morning. As President Buhari said (Saturday) yesterday, in the coming days, he will be engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking,’’ Ahmad said in the tweet.

    President Buhari had pledged on Saturday to ensure that the loopholes, which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

    On 18 November, the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram attack the 157 Task Force Battalion based at Metele in northern part of Borno state, killing scores of Nigerian troops.

    The military authorities are yet to give the specific number of casualties.

    Buhari in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday reiterated his administration’s commitment to the security of military personnel and other citizens.

    “No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of military personnel and other citizens”, Shehu quoted the president as saying.

    “Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support, in terms of equipment and manpower, to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

    “In the coming days, I am engaging the military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.”

    The President noted that fighting terrorism had taken a global dimension, which necessitated international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

    He, therefore, reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

    The president, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of the national tragedy, saying “members of the armed forces are one family, commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.’’

  • Atiku faults presence of Service Chiefs at Buhari’s campaign launch

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that perhaps the killing of about 70 Nigerian soldiers at Metele; Borno State would have been avoided if Service Chiefs were allowed to concentrate on their jobs.

    This is coming on the heels of accusation by the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) that Atiku was selfish and mercantilist in his reaction to the killings of the soldiers.

    Read Also:2019: Southwest may lose out as Southsouth lobbies PDP, Atiku for SGF slot

    Atiku had announced the dedication of his 72nd birthday, which coincided with his turbaning as the Waziri Adamawa to the memories of the slain soldiers.

    He had gone ahead to ask those wishing to contribute to the celebration of the events to channel their contributions to support the families and relatives of the dead soldiers.

    In a statement Monday by his campaign organisation, Atiku, quoting media reports, recalled that the soldiers were attacked and killed on November 18, at a time the Service Chiefs were attending the launch of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign document, “Next Level”, at the presidential villa.

    The statement said, “The nation can only wonder if the Metele massacre could have been avoided if the APC and President Buhari had allowed the Service Chiefs to focus on their core duties, rather than on his ill-fated re-election campaign”

    “Incidentally, the APC’s statement accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of ‘selfishness’ and ‘mercantilism’ which is very curious as the Waziri dedicated his birthday, not to himself, but to celebrating the 100 or so heroes of the 157 Taskforce Battalion of the Nigerian Army who lost their lives to Boko Haram at Metele in Borno State.

    “That the Waziri Adamawa asked for anyone who wished to give him birthday gifts to instead endow such on the families of the slain heroes is the opposite of selfishness.

    “Ironically, the All Progressives Congress that is now accusing Atiku Abubakar has not seen fit to pay tribute to these gallant men who gave their lives in order to secure the lives of others.

    “As a party, they have not issued even one statement condoling with the slain or their families, neither have they offered any tangible support to the families of these fallen heroes. Yet, they are accusing the Waziri, who has shown commitment to honouring these heroes, of selfishness.

    “As a matter of fact, we now know through Premium Times report, that these real Nigerian heroes were killed on November 18, 2018 which was the exact time that the candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, invited the Service Chiefs to attend the launch of the plagiarised #NextLevel launch at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa”.

    The Atiku campaign however, commended the Service Chiefs for beating a hasty retreat from the event, saying they must have discovered that President Buhari was trying to hoodwink them.

    It added that it took Atiku only a few hours to respond to the incident and express support, while it took President Buhari a whole week to express “shock”, wondering who is truly “selfish”.

    “It is left to Nigerians to compare and contrast who is a leader and who is a follower based on the conduct of these two parties.

    “In any case, we would like to inform the APC of Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s call for financial support from well-meaning individuals and Institutions for the survivors of the Metele massacre, and indeed for all who paid the supreme sacrifice in the frontlines for us to be safe.

    “Seeing as the APC spent ₦100 million to buy front page advertorials in all the papers on that fateful day of November 18, 2018, we appeal to them to consider donating even 10% of that amount to the endowment for the families of our heroes as proposed by Atiku Abubakar.

    “If they can spend ₦100 million to promote fraud, they should be able to spare at least ₦10 million to promote patriotism”, the statement added.

     

     

  • PDP urges N/Assembly to investigate killing of Nigerian soldiers

    …says Presidency condoning extra-judicial killings in Kwara

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the National Assembly to commence investigation into alleged compromises that led to the killing of over 100 Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents, particularly as the Buhari Presidency has refused to offer explanations on the matter.

    The PDP also accused the Presidency of condoning extra-judicial killing in the country and demanded an immediate forensic inquiry into the reported killing of a principal witness in the Offa robbery incident, Michael Adikwu, in the custody of the Kwara State police command.

    The main opposition party said investigation into the killing of  soldiers in Metele, Borno State, has become imperative given reports of compromises and alleged failure of the authorities to promptly act on a reported threat by insurgents to attack the base and other military locations in the area, a few days before the attack.

    A statement on Monday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the probe has become expedient going by a disturbing video circulating in the public domain, showing soldiers, weeks before the attack, giving accounts of their neglect by the authorities, resulting in their vulnerability to insurgents.

    The statement said, “This is particularly worrisome given apprehensions that President Muhammadu Buhari has been distracting the military by dragging our Service Chiefs to participate in his re-election campaign activities, instead of concentrating on their statutory duties.

    “Moreover, the apparent insensitivity of the Buhari Presidency to the killing as well as alleged moves by the authorities to sweep the matter under the carpet has created despondency among the citizens.

    “The PDP therefore urges the National Assembly to unravel the compromises leading to the killing of our soldiers and those behind them”

    Read Also: 2019: We will end APC’s reign in Lagos — PDP

    Similarly, the party also insisted that an inquest into the extra-judicial killing of the principal suspect in the Offa robbery has become essential following conflicting reports by the police over the cause and circumstances surrounding the death in police custody.

    The PDP recalled that the police had initially claimed that the witness was killed in the course of arrest, but later claimed that he died in the course of investigation, only to again declare that he was discovered dead just as he was about to be taken to court.

    “The PDP notes that the conflicting reports by the police only point towards an attempt to cover a case of extra-judicial killing, ostensibly with a view to muting vital information and derailing the course of justice in the matter which has since assumed a political dimension targeted at key opposition leaders.

    “The PDP therefore calls for a public investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing, which will require an open questioning of all those involved in the arrest and detention of the suspect”.

  • Army neutralises girl with explosives device in Adamawa

    The Nigeria Army on Monday said it has neutralised a girl with person-borne explosives device at a check point in Adamawa.

    This was disclosed via a tweet by the Nigerian Army official handle.

    The tweet reads “Troops of 143 Battalion deployed at a check point in Gulak Adamawa State, neutralised a girl with Person-Borne Improvised Explosive Device who tried to Infiltrate DAR Village to detonate her explosive vest in the early hours of 26 November 2018.”

    Read Also: Metele Boko Haram Attack: Masari condoles Nigerian Army

    It added; “The gallant troops in conjunction with hunters and vigilantes immediately cordoned off the incident area and subsequently conducted perimeter patrol around the community to ensure the area is cleared and to also exploit the area for BHT activities.

    Pictures are shown below.”

    Details later…

    Photo credit: @HQNigerianArmy

  • Metele Boko Haram Attack: Masari condoles Nigerian Army

    The Katsina state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari on Monday in Katsina condoled the Nigerian Army over the loss of dozens of Nigerian Soldiers in an ambush attack by the Boko Haram insurgents at Metele, a remote village in Lake Chad Basin border with Kukawa local government area of Borno state
     
    The Governor who was speaking at the Government House where he received Course 41 students of the Command and staff College Jaji in Kaduna state, who visited him as part of their routine geo-strategic course programme, said Nigerians appreciate the decision of the men and women of the Nigerian army to wear uniform to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country
     
    He said “We wish to commiserate with the armed forces of Nigeria for the loss of dozens of Soldiers to Boko Haram attack in Borno state’’
     
    “The service you provide is the highest any person can make to his motherland. we as politicians appreciate you more than you think and we look up to you for a much united country, You must eschew primordial interests and work very hard to safeguard your territory’’
     
    The Nation recalled that dozens of soldiers were killed and many others sustained gun wounds when Boko Haram insurgents invaded their base at Metele Kukawa local government area of Borno state on Sunday, November 18.
     
     Meanwhile Governor Masari has extolled the rich history of Education in Katsina state which he said predates the coming of the colonial master about 1000 years ago

    Read Also: Group canvasses support for Buhari, Masari

     
    Responding to the remark by the visiting military students from the Command and Staff College, Jaji, that they chosed the state as a case study on ‘’Nigeria’s Educational system and National Development’’. He maintained that the rich history of the state’s education sector started with Islamic education before the advent of colonial education
     
    He said “Our history abounds with renowned Imams and Malams and the gallantry of Katsina people. The first post primary institution in the northwest was established in this state. The first generation of Nigerian leaders and even our current President were products of the native authority school’’
     
    Earlier in an address, the Team leader of the delegation, Brigadier General O.R Ayeniba thanked the governor for the warm reception and logistics accorded them

  • Air Force steps up action against Boko Haram

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been striking fleeing Boko Haram attackers who invaded a military base in Metele village, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State.

    The air strikes led to the destruction of  seven vehicles, including gun trucks, and eliminated all the terrorists in the vehicles, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    But there are indications that Boko Haram commanders and their foot soldiers who attacked the military base in Metele were non-Nigerians.

    A military source, who spoke last night, said the military hierarchy had decided to “smoke out” the insurgents behind the ambush and killing of scores of soldiers in Metele.

    As part of steps of involving all military cadres in the war against Boko Haram, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Buratai, has relocated this year’s Army Conference from Benin, in Edo State to Maiduguri, in Borno State.

    Although the  conference will hold from tomorrow till Friday, many top Army officers already in Benin have been asked to proceed to Maiduguri.

    According to PRNigeria, a covert military information link, a top military intelligence officer said “the airstrikes had destroyed a convoy of vehicles linked to Boko Haram attackers involved in last weeks raid on the military base at Metele in Borno State.”

    The Boko Haram attackers used rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and AK47 rifles in raiding the military base where armoured  vehicles were destroyed, and a number of officers and men of the Nigerian Army killed.

    The officer said: “The Nigerian Air Force is following the trail of the terrorists and has successfully destroyed about seven vehicles, including gun trucks, and eliminated all the terrorists in the vehicles.

    ”The Air Force deployed the Mi-35M, multi-role combat helicopters which deliver a more superior flight performance with high-precision weaponry in destroying ground targets.

    ”Meanwhile, the aircraft also crossed the border into a neighboring country in hot pursuit of the where terrorists. Stolen armored vehicles were destroyed.

    ”The airstrikes took place in Tumbun Rego, Kangarwa and Mainok. There were also similar attacks hours after the Sunday’s attack. We expect the Nigerian Air Force to release air strike footage soon.”

    The Boko Haram attack sparked an outrage in the Senate and in the public. Videos and photographs purporting to be those of the attacks surfaced on the social media. The military denied their authenticity.

    Most of the Boko Haram commanders and their foot soldiers who attacked the military base are believed to be foreigners.

    Another intelligence officer told PRNigeria in confidence that the attackers were speaking Arabic, French and some foreign languages.

    The officer said: “Some of our soldiers who escaped after the rescue operation told us that the attackers were dressed in military camouflage similar to the one worn by member-countries of Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

    “We learnt that the attackers were not Nigerians as they spoke in Arabic, French and other strange languages when they first appeared like friendly force before they started to shoot at Nigerian troops.

    ”There is heighten suspicion that the deadliest attacks could not have taken place without collaborators, probably within the military camp or the host community who could have been communicating with the terrorists before and after they stormed the locations.

    ”The military may likely engage in a tactical maneuver for forceful reinforcements of ground troops and air components in the affected areas in view of new developments.”

    A source said: “In solidarity with the soldiers on war front and as part of steps to involve all military cadres in the battle against the insurgents, the Chief of Army Staff has relocated this year’s conference of the Nigerian Army from Benin to Maiduguri.

    “The relocation was an impromptu decision. Buratai wants all officers to be in Maiduguri for on the spot assessment and brainstorming on how to curtail the surging ambush from the insurgents.

    “The conference will actually focus on solutions to attacks on military bases. We will surely review the situation on ground and re-strategise at the conference. All those already in Benin have been redirected to proceed to Maiduguri for the conference, which is holding from November 27th to November 30th.”

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed in  heavy airstrikes against Boko Haram terrorists’ locations and vehicles.

  • Boko Haram: Nigeria, Chad Defence ministers to meet

    Defence Minister Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali is billed for N’djamena, Chad’s capital this week. His mission is to discuss with his Chadian counterpart Gen. Daoud Yaya on how best to respond to the worsening security crisis along the Nigeria – Chad border.

    The trip is coming in the wake of rising insurgency in the Northeast, especially the November 18 attack on troops at the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metete, a remote village in Borno State, on the Nigeria- Chad border.

    Scores of soldiers were allegedly killed by insurgents who invaded the camp in military uniforms as friendly soldiers.

    The Boko Haram fighters allegedly killed the Battalion Commander and those who were with him in the office before other insurgents who laid a siege swooped on the camp.

    Brig-Gen Ali’s Public Relations Officer Col. Tukur Gusau confirmed the scheduled meeting in a statement yesterday. According to the statement, the Defence minister’s visit was in continuation of consultations with the defence ministers of countries involved in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

    The MNJTF troops contributing countries (TCC) are: Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    Brig.-Gen. Dan- Ali was in Niger Republic last month over similar issue. He held bilateral discussions with his Nigerien counterpart, Brigi Rafini.

    Col Gusau said in the statement: “The visit is in continuation of consultations with Ministers of Defence of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Troops contributing countries (TCC) which include Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    “Recall that the minister paid a similar visit to Niger Republic in September during which he held a similar bilateral discussion with his Nigerien counterpart.

    ”The  minister’s visit to Chad will revolve around strengthening the operations of the MNJTF to enable it achieve its mandate of eliminating security threats and creating a safe and secure environment in its area of responsibility.”

  • Ill-prepared

    How did it happen? It is unbelievable that the November 18 Boko Haram  attack on troops at Metele village, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State, which claimed many lives, reportedly happened because the attackers disguised as friendly soldiers.

    An eyewitness account by a soldier who is said to have “escaped the attack by a whisker” sounds incredible: “We saw some people dressed in full military uniform who came into our camp, but we thought they were friendly forces. They went straight to the office of our commander and shortly after, there were gunshots in the office. We became confused, waiting for orders but it was too late. Boko Haram had already surrounded us.”

    The account continued: “They killed the commander with five other soldiers that were with him in the office. Before we knew it, there was heavy fire from Boko Haram from all sides of the camp with more fire at the entrance. One of our anti-bomb vehicles tried to charge through the barbwire but got hooked. It was a terrible fight. We couldn’t do much because their number and fire power were more than our own.”

    This picture shows that the army needs to get its act together. How were enemies able to penetrate the soldiers’ camp, and even surround the camp, so easily?

    This picture shows unacceptable unprofessionalism on the part of the troops.  This is not the way to fight against dangerous insurgents. It exposes the troops as ill-prepared.  The casualties were many, too many.

    It is disturbing that the federal government seems not to be winning the anti-terror war, but it wants the world to believe otherwise. A report said: “Boko Haram has sacked six military formations from that axis since September, each coming with heavy casualties on the side of the Nigerian troops.”

    Also: “Nigerian troops in Metele suffered a similar attack in September this year when about 18 Nigeria soldiers were killed while another 151 soldiers and six officers were declared missing in the same area in another devastating attack on 157 Battalion on October 8, 2018.”

    Clearly, the latest Boko Haram attack shows that the Islamic terrorist group is alive and well despite contrary claims by the country’s military authorities. Borno State has been vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks since the insurgency started in 2009, and there will always be a possibility the terrorists would strike again as long as they remain undefeated.  Less talk, more action.

  • Boko Haram: Buhari expresses shock over Metele massacre

    •Says Nigeria will see end of sect

    Despite the increasing onslaught by the insurgents, Boko Haram, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria will prevail over their deadly activities.

    The President also expressed deep shock over the killing of military personnel in Metele village of Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said that immediate measures are being taken to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

    This is coming as the Nigerian Army yesterday confirmed the attacks by the Boko Haram terrorists on troops of the 157 battalion at Metele.

    The confirmation was made through a statement by the Army authority in Abuja at the weekend.

    Reacting to the tragic incident, the President said that his administration remains ever committed and focused on the security of military personnel and other citizens.

    He said “No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens.

    “Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

    “In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.” he said

    The President noted that fighting terrorism has taken a global dimension, which necessitates international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

    He reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

    He, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family who are commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

    The Nigerian Army while confirming the attack however debunked the video been circulated in the social media, asserting it was fake.

    The Army described the attacks as unfortunate, but urged Nigerians to exercise caution regarding the death of the fallen heroes in that there are laid down procedures to be followed on the matter.

    The statement reads, “The attention of the NA has been drawn to several social media, print, electronic and online publications about the recent attack on 157 Task Force Battalion at Metele.

    “Whilst it is true that there was an attack on the location on 18 November 2018, it has however, become necessary to correct several misinformation being circulated with regards to this unfortunate event.

    “It is important for the public to note that the NA has laid down procedures for reporting incidents that involve its personnel who fall casualty in action. Out of respect for the families of our gallant troops, the NOKs are first notified before any form of public information so as to avoid exacerbating the grief family members would bear, were they to discover such from unofficial sources.

    “Furthermore, it suffices to observe that several social media, print and online publications have been brandishing false casualty figures as well as circulating various footages of old and inaccurate BHT propaganda videos and alluding same to be the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion.

    “Whilst it is understandable how such misinformation can spread in this era of social media frenzy, the spurious circulation of some of these videos only contribute to further propagate the propaganda intent of the terrorists; to misinform the populace and portray themselves as what they are not.

    “So far, the situation is that the location is under control as reinforcing units have been able to repel the terrorists and stabilize the situation.

    “The NA sincerely, wishes to thank the various arms of government, MDAs and sister security agencies that have stood with her in these trying times; by commiserating with the families of the fallen heroes who have paid the supreme price for the defence of our dearly beloved country.

    “The necessary support being given the NA by the Federal Government and the goodwill of the Nigerian populace will undoubtedly continue to spur the NA towards the ultimate defeat of the highly degraded BHTs.”