The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has given an account of military losses in recent weeks to Boko Haram terrorists and at the same time made a chilling revelation that the insurgents have gone hi-tech in fighting Nigerian soldiers.
He revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents now use drones and mercenaries to attack troops’ formations in the northeast.
A statement signed by Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka, on behalf of Buratai and issued on Thursday said the trend poses threats which require review of military operations against the insurgents.
“Since 2015; the Nigerian Army in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies have systematically degraded the capabilities and capacity of Boko Haram terrorists and many successes were achieved.
“However, in the last two to three months, we have noticed daring moves by the terrorists, increased use of drones against our defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks. These potent threats require us to continually review our operations”.
Buratai disclosed that 39 soldiers were killed and 43 others wounded in multiple attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents on various military locations in the past few weeks.
He disclosed that insurgents attacked Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto, Gajiram and Metele military locations between Nov. 2 and 18, adding that they were successfully repelled by the gallant troops and several insurgents killed.
“In recent weeks, Nigerian troops deployed in the North East of Nigeria under Operation LAFIYA DOLE have come under series of attacks by large numbers of Boko Haram Terrorists.
“Specifically; the Nigerian Army troops deployed at Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram came under attack at different times within a two-week period between November 2 and 17, 2018. Each of these incidents was successfully repelled and several members of the terrorists killed.
“However, a total of 16 personnel were killed in the course of these attacks while 12 soldiers wounded in action and are receiving treatment at our military medical facilities.
“As you are all aware, Nigeria is contributing troops to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which has its headquarters in N’djamena, Chad. One of the Nigerian battalions; 157 Task Force Battalion, deployed under the auspices of the MNJTF was attacked at their base on the outskirts of a town called METELE on November 18, 2018.
“During the attack, the troops were forced to withdraw and several casualties were recorded. As at date 23 personnel were killed in action and 31 personnel wounded and have been evacuated to several medical hospitals within Borno State,” Buratai said.
Buratai sympathised with the MNJTF, adding that necessary support would be rendered to the MNJTF to reverse the resurgence of the Boko Haram terrorists.
Buratai also sympathised with the families of the gallant officers and soldiers that paid the supreme price in the course of defending the nation, stressing that the sacrifice fallen heroes will not be in vain.
Buratai gave an assurance that the army will support the bereaved families and continue to care for the wounded soldiers, who he wished speedy recovery.
According to him, the ongoing Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference earlier scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, was moved to Maiduguri, to enable the military leadership get closer to the troops on the ground, appraise its activities, assess performances and identify shortcomings.
Buratai reiterated the commitments of the Nigerian Army to ensure peaceful conduct of 2019 elections as well as collaborate with other security agencies to provide a secure environment for peace and unity in the country.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his support and visit to the troops in the northeast.
The army chief also commended Gov. Kashim Shettima, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali and Nigerians for their goodwill and support to the military at this trying moment.
”We wish to reassure all Nigerians of the commitment of the Nigerian Army to defend our country at all costs. We shall also continue to remain apolitical, professional and responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles”.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that 23 of its personnel were killed and 31 others wounded when Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops locations on Nov. 18 at Metele in Northern Borno.
The figure contradicts reports of 44 to 100 army personnel allegedly killed in the attack.
In a statement issued by Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday, the army, however, said that between Nov. 2 and Nov. 17, the insurgents attacked troops’ positions at Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram.
He said troops repelled those attacks but 16 soldiers were killed, while 12 others sustained injuries in those incidents.
“The sacrifices of these fallen heroes will not be in vain.
“We also wish all those wounded in action speedy recovery and assure them of our continued support and care,” Usman said. .
Usman said the incident of Nov. 18 happened at a time when the Nigerian Army was planning to hold the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference for 2018 in Benin City.
“On account of this incident, the Conference had to be moved from Benin City to Maiduguri to enable the Nigerian Army leadership get closer to the troops on the ground and to better appraise our activities, assess our performance and identify our shortcomings as an army.
“We are also sensitive to the fact that the nation is approaching an election year and thus we must be prepared to assist in providing security for the peaceful conduct of elections.
Accordingly, the theme for this year’s annual conference is aptly titled, “Optimizing the Operational Efficiency of the Nigerian Army Towards Safeguarding Democracy and National Security in Nigeria,” Usman said.
He assured Nigerians and the international community that the army would work optimally, in conjunction with other security agencies to provide a secure environment for peace and unity in Nigeria.
Usman noted that since 2015, the army in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies had systematically degraded the capabilities and capacity of Boko Haram terrorists and recorded many successes.
However, he said in the last two to three months, there were daring moves by the terrorists, who had used drones against troops’ defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks.
“These potent threats require us to continually review our operations.
“The Nigerian Army, wishes to reiterate and pledge its total commitment to the defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We wish to reassure all Nigerians of the commitment of the Nigerian Army to defend our country at all costs.
“We shall also continue to remain apolitical, professional and responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles. (NAN)
IT is almost two weeks since the Metele attacks occurred. Details of the incident remain a matter of conjectural manipulation as in military matters of this nature.
Politicians have latched onto it to lash the Muhammadu Buhari administration for insisting that Boko Haram, the terrorist group masquerading as an Islamic crusader, has been “technically defeated” and “degraded”. On social media, there are videos purporting to be actual reports of the attack. At the National Assembly, there is anger. Lawmakers are warming up for a probe of the government spending in the anti-insurgency war. Fine.
One fact seems incontrovertible – we lost many soldiers in that incident. But, as in all wars, truth is the first casualty. Nobody knows for sure how many of our compatriots died. Nor are we told that the insurgents lost any fighter. Boko Haram has used this incident to proclaim its “invincibility”, with the less discerning helping to push its propaganda by sending round the videos, which are believed to have been doctored.
But the big question remains – what happened in Metele? How did Boko Haram, which is supposed to be receding with its rag-tag army of fighters, storm a military base and levelled it as if there was no resistance?
Sabotage? Failure of intelligence? Fatigue? Superior firepower? Complacency?
Many emergency military tacticians have suddenly surfaced, making suppositions and postulations on what may have gone wrong. Troubled, I sought some experts’ views.
“The boys may have relaxed,” one told me, “having not experienced such incidents for a long time”. This is a possibility. No normal human being can be on red alert in perpetuity. After a while during which what is feared has refused to manifest, it is logical to drop one’s guard a bit.
Did that happen in Metele?
Besides, the soldiers may have interacted with the community for long, making friends with the residents, some of whom may have been working for Boko Haram. They may have studied the base very well – its strength, mode of operation, weaponry, change of guards and all. “So, the boys were caught unawares, no doubt. There was no time to rally the troops. If there was time, the casualty would not have been so high,” said one of my sources, a retired senior officer.
Contrary to the impression that Boko Haram fighters are novices, they are trained – courtesy of their affiliation with the ISIS, which supports them with weapons and cash. The group also earns handsomely from the huge ransoms paid for kidnap victims. Its fighters, having been brainwashed, are ready to die, believing that fighting to the death is a sure visa to heaven. That is why some are sent on suicide bombing missions. The military seems to have found a way round that; now the insurgents have resorted to fighting again.
Some of the soldiers we lost in Metele are believed to be young and relatively inexperienced in warfare. Among them, most likely, are those encountering a real war situation, perhaps for the first time. So, is quality of soldiering dropping? I really do not know, but some of the experts believe it is. Their verdict is that the soldiers of today are different from those who got accolades in Liberia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone and many other places.
No doubt, there was failure of intelligence. Otherwise, the troops would not have been caught napping, as it seemed. Boko Haram and its local collaborators must have spent many days organising the attack, yet the information did not leak.
If we note that intelligence may have failed, what about the Air Force; was it contacted as the bombardments began? Was there any response? In other words, was there any air support for our soldiers?
The combat readiness of the Air Force, to one expert, can not be easily determined. It is true that modern wars are won by the Air Force, but the infantry remains the king of the Armed Forces because, according to the source, they are the ones who hold the ground and the success of an operation is measured by their gains.
Could it be, as many believe, that Boko Haram has superior weapons? A General once told me that what the military owes a soldier is the rifle; any other equipment is a a supporting tool. The soldier must hold on to his rifle even if he is down, the General said. But he wondered if today’s soldiers die holding their guns, considering the unauthenticated – they won’t ever be, anyway – stories of soldiers taking off their uniforms and fleeing the battle field.
Like in many other matters of national interest. Metele has become a political device to be pressed into service by politicians whose only interest is how to retain their seats, not in any patriotic or altruistic ventures which will be to the benefit of all. This is tragic.
The National Assembly has been threatening to probe the funding of the Boko Haram war. It should go ahead. Leading the call for probe are many members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was in power when Boko Haram attained its notoriety and its madness hit its full potential. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) became a cash machine visited by leading lights of the PDP, who shared at least $2.1b earmarked for the purchase of arms.
The money was diverted into the prosecution of the 2015 election and ended up in private pockets. Some of it even went into spiritual matters, with a former governor claiming that he spent over N2.2b on prayers. That has got to be the most expensive prayer ever undertaken anywhere in the world, I dare say.
President Buhari has been pilloried for not talking about the incident until about a week after it occurred. The popular view is that he should have spoken, summoning the Service Chiefs and lashing them. Publicly, he should have demanded an answer to the question – what happened?
That is not the way to go, an expert told me. In the expert’s view, by issuing a statement immediately, Buhari would have been reacting as if what has happened is unusual in a war. “Nigeria is at war; we shouldn’t deceive ourselves,” the source said, adding that Buhari, who fought in the Civil War, should have remembered some of the battles that were lost before the war ended.”In a war, you can’t win all the battles,” he said, adding: “Why lose focus because you’ve lost one.”
To the retired officer, it is right for the citizenry to think that there should be no loss, but the Armed Forces do not think so. In fact, there is room for about 10 per cent loss in this kind of situation. “War is idiotic,” he said, adding that “the first to fire is the one without ideas”. The reality, in his view, is that “in a war, people must die”. This is very tough for non-soldiers to understand, he noted.
This is why the government should find out what went wrong. Is it true that some of the people see the fight against Boko Haram as another business? Even then, shouldn’t there be a line that business must not cross – when it begins to consume human life in such a gruesome manner? Are we funding the military adequately? What are the roles of our neighbours?
Senators called for a minute’s silence to honour the fallen heroes. This is hypocritical. The salary of 20 Generals, I am told, is less than a senator’s package–wardrobe allowance, wives allowance, children’s education allowance, out-of-station allowance, inconvenience allowance, gardner’s allowance, steward’s allowance and more. In fact, our lawmakers’ pay is one of the most guarded secrets ever–anywhere. They should cut their allowances and salaries and package a better welfare for our military men instead of honouring them with a minute’s silence whenever they fall in battle.
Will they listen?
Good times for whistle-blowers
THE Federal Government has just given an update on its whistle-blower policy, which it says has raked in N540b – as of May. The cash came in various currencies (N527b, $53m and £122,890), recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Besides the vast sums, many choice properties have been recovered from men – and women – who thought they were untouchable. Some are pleading to be left off the hook after surrendering their loot. Others are in court. But there are questions the public are asking: Is the cash lying idle somewhere? If so, when will it be spent and on what? How about the people who tried to squeal on others but got it all wrong? How many have been prosecuted?
Magu
With the success of the whistle-blower policy, it is a mystery that no university has been able to design some courses in this lucrative area, to be taught by experienced professors. Ask 10 youngsters what they wish to become in future, no fewer than eight will reply: “Whistle-blower”.
“Why?”
“Simple; they make billions by just blowing a whistle.”
It is surprising also that all those bogus job agencies are yet to see whistle-blowing as a veritable tool for their nefarious trade.
When they finally get it, I can see some of such agencies coming up with notices, such as: “Wanted. Whistle-blowers. Age: Any age: Education: At least School Certificate. Experience: Not necessary but can be of advantage.”
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), an NGO, has condemned the fake picture of the killing of some Nigerian Soldiers on the social media platform.
The CITAD Hate Speech Project Coordinator, Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim, made this condemnation in a statement on Wednesday in Bauchi.
“The picture, which has gone viral on the social media, shows two gentlemen in a Nigerian military uniform; one is dead while the other is crying loudly.
”Those circulating the image claimed it was a scene during the recent attack on the Nigerian troops under the 157 Task Force Battalion at Metele in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno on Nov. 18,” he said.
According to him, the organisation observes that the picture is receiving the attention of Nigerians on the social media with the impression that it originates from the Metele attack on the Nigerian troops.
“We want to emphasise here that the picture is fake, and it is not in any way connected with Metele incident.
“Unlike what those circulating the pictures claimed, the picture originated from a Hausa Movie called ”Abu Hassan”, where two friends “Adam Zango and Zahraddin Sani”, were involved in a gunfight with their antagonists.
“Zango had in the movie died, having been shot several times and Sani, being a friend and a colleague, was madly screaming in sympathy with him.
“The movie produced by Zahraddin Sani and directed by Alfazazi (a Kaduna-based film maker), was released in 2016.
“They are using that scene to mislead people into believing that it was a reality during Metele incident; that is absolutely false’’.
Ibrahim, however, said the alleged picture was fake in totality, urging those sharing it to desist from such act, on whatever medium.
“Disseminating fake news in whatever form is injurious to the peace and development of the country, and as such, people should desist from such act.
“We equally want to caution people against sharing fake news particularly at this time of electioneering campaign. Before sharing any information, people should question its authenticity,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned Service Chiefs to an emergency security meeting over the reported killing of some Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram sect along the Nigeria-Chad border on Sunday.
The urgent meeting was necessitated by the latest security developments across the battle fields in the North East region of the country.
A reliable source, who preferred not to be named, confirmed this development to NAN in Abuja on Friday.
NAN learnt that Federal Government pronouncement on the latest victims of Boko Haram insurgency was being delayed because families of the victims were being identified and contacted.
“The President has called an urgent meeting with the Service Chiefs.
“And the families of the latest victims of the Boko Haram are being identified and contacts made before a government pronouncement on the tragic attacks.
“This, it is understood is the reason for the silence of the government over the incident,’’ the source added.
According to some reports, no fewer than 44 soldiers were killed during the attacks, which occurred at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad. The village is located in Guzamala LG area of Borno state.
The Nigerian Army broke its silence on the attack on Friday night.
Though it confirmed the attack, which it described as “an unfortunate event”, it decried the misinformation being circulated about the attack.
” 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(Next of Kins) 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 stabilise 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.”
President Buhari had earlier dispatched the Minister of Defence, retired Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, to Chad for an emergency meeting with the Chadian President, Idris Deby, on the deterioration of security at the Nigeria-Chad border.
Dan-Ali had on Thursday briefed President Buhari on security development across the country including the recent killings of some Nigerian soldiers by the Islamic West Africa Province, a breakaway Boko Haram sect, operating along Nigeria-Chad border.
According to military sources, the Minister of Defence would also be meeting his Chadian counterpart during his mission to Chad, to identify what had led to the recent increase in Boko Haram terrorism in the area.
The sources, who preferred not to be named, said: “Nigeria has a Chad problem in the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which was put together to secure the Lake Chad Basin area and repeal the Boko Haram terrorism attacks against all the countries neighbouring the lake.’’
According to the sources, Chad is believed to have its own internal security challenges and this has reportedly led to their pulling away the troops manning their own border around Lake Chad.
“That lacuna is being exploited by the Boko Haram terrorists, who go in and out of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to launch terrorist acts.
“This is a clear illustration of the fact that terrorism is beyond national borders,” the sources added.
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said he was aware that the Defence Minister would be going to Chad, adding “I’m unaware of his mission there.’’
The Army command in Maiduguri have evacuated bodies of soldiers killed by Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday at Metele village in Guzamala Local Government Area of North Borno State, The Nation has learnt.
A military source who spoke to the The Nation on condition of anonymity disclosed that over seventy dead soldiers have been evacuated to Maiduguri by the military after the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole and the GOC, 7 Div on Friday went to Monguno to strategised and recover bodies of the slain soldiers.
The source further said more than one hundred soldiers were feared dead in the Metele attack.
The Nation also gathered that the first rescue and evacuation team was foiled after Boko Haram launched an attack that forced them into abandoning the mission.
“As of today, the bodies of some of the dead soldiers have been evacuated and brought to Maiduguri. More than seventy dead bodies have been brought. But I am sure many may not have been recovered. I am not sure but the soldiers that died in that attack will be more than one hundred” he said.
A soldier that escaped the attack and doesn’t want his name in print said an advanced team of the insurgents came into the based as friendly forces and went into the office of the commander where they fired at him and five other soldiers that were with him in his office.
According to the source, the troops got confused after hearing sound of gunshots from their commander’s office.
He said, “We saw some people dressed in full military uniform came into our camp but we thought they were friendly forces. They went straight to the office of our commander. Within a short time, there were gunshots in the office. we got confused waiting for orders but it was too late. Boko Haram had already surrendered us. They killed the commander with five other soldiers that were with him in the office. Before we knew what was going on, there was heavy gunfire from Boko Haram from all sides of the camp with more fire at the entrance. One of our anti–bomb vehicle tried to charge through the barbwire but got hook. It was a terrible fight oga, (sic). We couldn’t do much because they had a large number and their firepower was more superior than ours”.
The Nation further checks also revealed that Boko Haram in September of this year sacked six military formations from that axis with each of them coming with a heavy casualties on the side of the Nigerian troops.
It would be recalled that Nigerian troops in Metele suffered similar attacks in September this year where about 18 Nigerian soldiers were killed while another over 151 soldiers and six officers were declared missing in the same area in another devastating attack on the 157 Battalion on October 8, 2018.
The official figures released by the military where seven soldiers killed and sixteen injured. They claimed to have killed at least 76 Boko Haram fighters in Metele as at then.
Effort by The Nation to get Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Chukwu Texas to react to this report were unsuccessful as as calls and text messages to his known numbers where not answered to.
