By ChiDubem Michael
The Nigerian Army apologises to
the public for releasing a statement that turned out to be false on last week’s
attack on geologists from the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in the company
of some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the
Lake Chad region.
A statement by the Director of
Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Sani Usman on Saturday 29th July, said
the earlier information on the incident about the rescue was regrettable
and not deliberate.
According to the army, more
bodies, comprising five soldiers, 11 Civilian-JTF members and five oil
exploration workers were further recovered by a military rescue team.
The military institution in the earlier
statement claimed to have rescued all the NNPC workers who were carrying out a
survey on oil exploration in the Lake Chad and that nine of its soldiers were
killed during the ambush. However, the claim that all the workers were rescued
turned out to be false. This is then unlike the army institution which had been
so protective of its capabilities and viewed operational losses and tactical
failures as admission of weakness.
On the statement Brig. Gen Sani
Usman says: “The incident of 25th July 2017 where some Boko Haram terrorists
ambushed our troops including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)
escorting some staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well
as that of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on oil exploration in Borno Yesu
District of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State is unfortunate and
highly regrettable.
Most regrettable also is my earlier release on
the said incident about the rescue of all NNPC staff. The error in the
statement was not deliberate. The Nigerian Army in this present dispensation is
reputed for timely dissemination of information on activities of our troops in
all theatre of operations. We have strived to keep the public informed on our
activities with no intention of distorting any fact.”
He then said, “The troops had doubled efforts in
the pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists while search and rescue was ongoing to
secure the safe return of the remaining civilians”. So far the search and
rescue team has recovered additional bodies of five soldiers, 11 Civilian JTF
and five members of the exploration team.
“Contrary to reports in some
media, six members of exploration team out of 12 that went out are still
missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive. On the other hand,
our pursuit team also recovered 2 of our own gun trucks and an additional
Toyota Buffalo Gun truck from the insurgents. The team also made the following
recoveries; 4 rocket propelled grenade bombs, 4 rocket propelled grenade
chargers, 6 AK-47 rifles, 1 anti-aircraft gun, 1 general purpose machine gun,1
anti-aircraft gun barrel, 1 rocket propelled grenade tube, 4 dane guns, 8 tyres
and 2 tyre rims. Other items recovered include 1 pumping machine, 2 tyre jacks,
1 super battery, 5 reflective jackets, 3 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 4 jerry cans
filled with petrol , 1 Motorola radio, 1 Geographical Positioning System (GPS),
21 empty jerry cans, 2 shovels and 3 food coolers.”
He however, said that “the army
condoled with the families of all who lost their lives in the
incident. “What the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are doing are
pure criminal activities of kidnapping to gain funds. This has been noted and
will be jointly addressed in conjunction with other security services”.
Two survivors of the attacks said they escaped
death because of God’s “mercies and miracles.” Ajid on the hospital bed of the
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) said over 100 Boko Haram
insurgents participated in the three-hour ambush.
“It was terrifying and horrific
for the insurgents to overwhelm soldiers and other security personnel escorting
us to the Jilli-Bornoyesu axis of Magumeri. Boko Haram has superior firepower,
when compared to our soldiers in the escort convoy.”
Governor Kashim Shettima described the attack as
a tragic setback to the fight against Boko Haram and the efforts to boost
Nigeria’s economic fortunes. Whereas Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has
dismissed the claim of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal
Government that it has defeated Boko Haram insurgents.
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