In their attempt to cover up the setback
suffered by its troops in a recent battle with
the extremist Boko Haram sect and discredit
PREMIUM TIMES exclusive report on the
matter, senior officials of the Nigerian Army
have made at least four contradictory
statements in the last 24 hours.
PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively and
authoritatively reported that at least 105
soldiers attached to the 157 battalion went
missing after they came under intense attack
from Boko Haram insurgents in Gudunbali,
Borno State, on Wednesday morning,
Reliable military insiders also told this
newspaper that the terrorists captured a T-72
tank as well as several artillery weapons from
the unit.
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the
spokesperson of the army, Sani Usman, before
the story was published, he directed us to
forward our enquiries to officials of 7 Division
in Maiduguri.
However, the spokesperson of the 7 Division,
Tukur Gusau, a colonel, also declined to
comment on the matter saying the
commander of the division would address a
press conference on the issue later on
Thursday and that it was improper for him to
pre-empt his commanding officer.
However, after our story ran, Mr. Usman
called our reporter to officially confirm that
the attack indeed took place as reported.
“I want to confirm the incidence at Gudunbali
but the details you provided were not correct.
“The unit attacked is within the area of
responsibility of the MNJTF and troops are
now organising to counteract the attack,” he
said.
However, he did not give contrary details of
the attack to counter PREMIUM TIMES account
of the incident. He merely added that the
theatre of command would provide details
during a press conference in Maiduguri later
on Thursday.
During that press briefing, attended by our
reporter in Maiduguri, the commander of 7
Division, Yushau Abubakar, also admitted that
the troops were involved in a major clash
with the insurgents. He further stated that
several causalities were recorded on both
sides.
“Our troops were attacked in Gudumbali
where we dislodged the Boko Haram there.
We had an attack and we are sorting it out.
But I have not heard anything relating to what
is being reported in the media, he said.
He however became evasive when pressed
further for details of the attack by journalists.
“I have spoken with the CO (commanding
officer) there even this morning and I have
not heard anything of such from him. Yes, we
went to Gudumbali and we were attacked and
we repelled them and we are currently
sorting out the situation. In war anything can
happen and the operation is ongoing.”
However, later on Thursday evening, the
military issued a statement describing the
report of the attack as a product of “the
imagination of those sympathetic to Boko
Haram ways of life.”
“The attention of the Theatre Command
Operation Lafiya Dole was drawn to an online
media publication saying troops of 157 Task
Force Battalion were overran by the Boko
Haram terrorists in Guzamala axis of Borno
state and that several personnel were killed
and several others cannot be accounted for
including the Commanding Officer of the Unit,
the statement signed by Mr. Gusau read.
At no point in our two reports on the matter
did PREMIUM TIMES say the soldiers were
killed. We merely reported that they were
missing.
“The Theatre Command wants to state clearly
that the story is a fabrication from the
imagination of those sympathetic to Boko
Haram ways of life.
“Although the location of 157 Battalion was
attacked last Wednesday and was
subsequently repelled by the gallant troops of
the Unit, the Commanding Officer of the Unit
is in contact with his Brigade Commander.
“However, the unit suffered some casualties
which is normal in military operations. The
affected personnel sustained minor injuries
but no gunshot wound was sustained by the
troops.
“The number of casualty and equipment lost
as being circulated is not correct. The situation
was unnecessarily blown beyond proportion
to give terrorists the type of propaganda they
desired,” he stated.
Also later on Thursday night, Mr. Usman,
circulated another statement, describing the
incident in Gudunbali as a “slight setback”.
“The situation is being stabilised,” he said.
“The troops have rejoined their unit for
further action. The earlier media reports were
exaggerated. The CO is right now with his
soldiers. It is just a minor setback and such
are common in military operations,” he said.
However, in all its comments on the incident,
the military failed to say whether soldiers
went missing at any point during the
operation or not.
PREMIUM TIMES Managing Editor, Musikilu
Mojeed, said Friday morning that his paper
was standing by its story.
“We are not surprised by the army’s desperate
attempt to confuse Nigerians,” Mr. Mojeed
said.
“We understand they were shocked that we
got to know about the incident. We stand by
our story, and we will provide further details
as necessary.”

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/193499-nigerian-army-officials-in-contradictory-claims-to-cover-up-battle-with-boko-haram-that-left-several-soldiers-missing.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

A house divided against itself... Suppose bh is to be anihilated in two months?

The matter don de come out small small ehhhhh. Boko must do video with the army na, abi no be shekau again?

No more lies, we've seen the pics of the dead soldiers already.

lol...dis zoo is a joke....d zoogeria army is as useless as poo

May God help us as a nation. It's sad to know this is happening in Nigeria.

Shame on Buhari, shame on APC. Shame on Buratai. Losing 105 in a single battle is shame. My advice is that the names of those dead soldiers must be published, panel of enquiring must be setup to ascertain what happened, anyone find culpable should be punished and state burial should be given to them

The last statement from the Command clearly stated that the troops were back at the base after the set back.

For the purpose of your propaganda, you would rather spread the rumor of death and disappearance.

This is a folly for you because soldiers missing and disappearing in front line is a mark of heroism. it is a salutary departure from the era of missing civilians and mutiny!

Shame

God when will dis horror film be over?

TRUTHTOPOWER:
The last statement from the Command clearly stated that the troops were back at the base after the set back.
For the purpose of your propaganda, you would rather spread the rumor of death and disappearance.
This is a folly for you because soldiers missing and disappearing in front line is a mark of heroism. it is a salutary departure from the era of missing civilians and mutiny!

Can you please tell Buratai to make a roll call and tell us exactly the number of Casualties?


Agreed, the number was overblown, but what is the real number? I'm sure these will be your questions if it were to be during Blessed GEJ's time

TRUTHTOPOWER:
The last statement from the Command clearly stated that the troops were back at the base after the set back.

For the purpose of your propaganda, you would rather spread the rumor of death and disappearance.

This is a folly for you because soldiers missing and disappearing in front line is a mark of heroism. it is a salutary departure from the era of missing civilians and mutiny!

So it is propaganda now....

TRUTHTOPOWER:
The last statement from the Command clearly stated that the troops were back at the base after the set back.

For the purpose of your propaganda, you would rather spread the rumor of death and disappearance.

This is a folly for you because soldiers missing and disappearing in front line is a mark of heroism. it is a salutary departure from the era of missing civilians and mutiny!

So it is propaganda now?
Laughing at the profuse sweating of you guys defending the glaring lapses of this current regime.