Tag: DHQ

Weekend’s clashes between Boko Haram insurgents and troops in Baga, Borno State, claimed the lives of 14 soldiers, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed yesterday. It said 30 others sustained injuries.

The DHQ however said that the fighting was still ongoing in Baga and that many insurgents had been mauled down.

A statement and a tweet by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade gave insight into the battle to reclaim Baga since Boko Haram invaded the fish town on January 3.

There had been claims and counter-claims on the actual situation in the troubled community.

While the Amnesty International alleged that more than 2,000 civilians might have died in the deadliest raid on Baga by Boko Haram, the DHQ said the actual figure of civilian casualties has not been creditably determined.

The tweet said: “We are fighting in Baga. We are   taking terrorists down; we are losing our soldiers too…”

But the statement was more specific on the situation of the war in Baga.

Olukolade said: “A total of 14 soldiers were killed in action during the attack, while over 30 who were wounded are now receiving medical attention. Most of those declared missing in action have also rejoined their unit in the ongoing reorganisation for further operations.

“Although several of the terrorists died in the course of the attack and efforts at repelling the assailants, the actual figure of civilian casualties is yet to be creditably determined as is being propagated in certain quarters.

“The Nigerian military has not given up on Baga and other localities where terrorists’ activities are now prevalent. Appropriate plans, men and resources are presently being mobilised to address the situation.

“The Nigerian component of the Multinational Joint Task Force which retreated from its Baga Headquarters last weekend and more of the troops are regrouping for necessary debriefing and briefing for subsequent missions.

“It is necessary to reassure Nigerians that the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies are capable of flushing out the terrorists from Baga and all parts of the nation’s territory where their activities are prevalent. No portion of Nigeria’s territory has been or will be conceded to terrorists.

“The use of all available resources within the armed forces will continue to be maximised to sustain the tempo of the counter-terrorism campaign towards containing and eradicating terrorism in the nation’s territory.

“The support and understanding of all partners and neighbouring countries will however continue to be utilised where available and relevant in the conduct of the mission and in line with existing agreement and understanding.”

In a separate statement last night, the DHQ said the interpretation of recent terrorists’ attacks by Amnesty International has vindicated the position of the military that troops never engaged in massacre of people in the town.

The DHQ said: “This interpretation of the recent terrorists attack on Baga is quite valid. You will recall that the military has maintained all through that the troops never engaged in any massacre in Baga as some activists and the media alleged in 2013.

“We have been insisting that such viciousness and barbarism were more typical of the terrorists’ pattern of operation than the action of the troops.

“Unfortunately however, some interest groups and terrorist sympathisers for whom it is more convenient continued to misinform the world, have kept attributing the evil to Nigerian troops.

“The attack on the town by the blood hounds and their activities since January 3rd, 2015, should convince well- meaning people all over the world that Boko Haram is the evil all must collaborate to end rather than vilifying those working to check them.

“Those who have found it more convenient to insist on labelling the Nigerian military with allegations of human rights abuse using Baga as a reference should note this development.

“Let us hope this will encourage them to begin placing blames where they belong. The priority of all our military action in this campaign has been the protection of our civilian population.”

The DHQ said more troops had been deployed in Damaturu to secure Yobe, the state capital.

Boko Haram insurgents had on Friday attacked Damaturu with the aim of seizing the town.

But the insurgents were successfully repelled by troops.

The DHQ confirmed that five soldiers were wounded in the counter-attacks on the insurgents.

It added:  “The terrorists had launched massive attack from different directions of the town on Friday evening, but troops were promptly mobilised to repel the attack that lasted the night, resulting in heavy casualty on the terrorists before the rest of them retreated.

“Weapons including IEDs and Rocket Propelled Grenades captured from the terrorists are being compiled while their dead as well as civilian casualties are yet to be determined.

“Pursuit of the fleeing terrorists is also ongoing while the five soldiers who were seriously wounded in the attack are being treated in the military medical facility.

“Although normalcy has been restored, the town is also being reinforced with more troops.”