Chad, Nigerien troops in charge of border town
… As military restrains loitering ALJAZEERA journalists from restricted areas

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian Army has debunked reports in the media that about 500 people, mostly women and children were abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists in Damasak, Borno State.

This is coming as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) stated that Chadian and Nigerien troops are in charge of security and protection of the border town of Damasak in Borno State according to dictates of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) against terrorism in Nigeria’s north east.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, stated this yesterday during a press briefing on the activities of the Service within the period under review.

While fielding questions from journalists on the fate of the 500 people allegedly kidnapped by the terrorists, described such claims as a total fabrication.

"It is not true. Its is all lies and I don't just want to start discrediting any news agency but this particular medium has been in the habit of dishing out false news like in more than four occasions now. Please there is no 500 people that was kidnapped", he said.

In a related development, PRNigeria quoting military sources, said that DHQ has clarified the nature of military arrangement in the border town of Damasak, which has generated controversy recently.

According to sources, the clarification became necessary in view of a trending speculation in major international media that another 400 children and women were kidnapped and led away by Boko Haram terrorists while fleeing from Damasak recently liberated by Chadian and Nigerien troops.

The military personnel who spoke with PRNigeria wondered how fleeing terrorists who were pounded by Nigerian Air Force aircraft before being overwhelmed by forces from the two MJTF participating troops would pack over 400 individuals along with them in the process.

“Although we are not officially responding to such baseless assertions because it has become normal for some interests to manufacture something so that their media will have something negative to report about Nigeria. It is nevertheless important to let them know that troops from Niger and Chad have been in charge of protecting that town and we wonder how they would have allowed Boko Haram the luxury of such mass kidnapping?

“Were the abducted individuals herded away on foot or packed in trailers or small trucks?”, the source wondered.

Meanwhile, two journalists working for Aljazeera Television who were found to have been loitering around restricted areas where military operations are ongoing in the North East have been restrained in Maiduguri.

The DHQ in a statement published on defenceinfo.mil.ng, stated that “the journalists, Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy who were noted to have been moving around various locations including restricted areas in Yobe and Borno State were also operating without any protection, accreditation or due clearance.

"They were accordingly monitored by military intelligence operatives until they eventually had to be restrained to their hotel in Maiduguri. This followed the increasing suspicion that their activities were aimed at interfering with the ongoing military operations in the area.

"The motive, activities and some material in possession of these individuals are being investigated", the statement read.

The military authorities recalled that foreign journalists have earlier been cautioned against unauthorised and unprotected movements around the military operations area.

SOURCE:http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/boko-haram-army-debunks-kidnap-of-500-women-children-in-damasak/205024/

Aljazeera , APC and the local and International Media Organisations supporting them are very much ready to keep on peddling rumors and false allegations. It has now become a daily bread for them, just because they want to discredit President Jonathan's efforts..

God help those women and children. Goodluck will so deny them

Just like the previous abduction, its gonna take them another 3 weeks before reality sinks in

Not again

Jonathan needs to go. This is exactly how they kept denying #ChibokGirl. The DHq even narrated how they were rescued James Bond style. Only for us to find out it was a big lie.

While I don't trust the figure, but the abduction were reported by Villagers and in most National Dallies. The Army should investigate it first before trying to sweep it under the carpet.

The NA should do a thorough investigation to get it right this time but I doubt the authenticity of the number of abductees.
The mass media needs to stop giving psychological victory to BH.


Buhari please spare my dog Hector after you loose on saturday.

Apc why
Why the lies
Say yes to transformation cum jonathan

Liars

egift:
Jonathan needs to go. This is exactly how they kept denying #ChibokGirl. The DHq even narrated how they were rescued James Bond style. Only for us to find out it was a big lie.

While I don't trust the figure, but the abduction were reported by Villagers and in most National Dallies. The Army should investigate it first before trying to sweep it under the carpet.

Why are you trying so hard to make us believe the news is true? If it was GMB that is involved,you lots would say jonathan is sharing dollars to media houses to discredit him.

Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida who has extensively covered Boko Haram insurgency says it is impossible for the terrorist group to abduct over 400 women and children from Damasak as reported by Reuters yesterday March 24th

transformer2019:
Apc why
Why the lies
Say yes to transformation cum jonathan

Another APC kidnap scam.

We're not buying it. Do you know what it takes to move 400 people in a military zone?

i know its not true

more of his comment

I am aware that some Enemies of Nigeria state along with their foreign partners are always wishful for something bad to happen to the Government and people of Nigeria. But #Never Again Will Their Plan work.... Sai GEJ

more

and more

If apc like they report what they want or like, that is their personal business, and cup of tea. Who cares other than d gullible one's that read, and digest their story.

[size=13pt]"It is not true. Its is all lies and I don't just want to start discrediting any news agency but this
particular medium has been in the habit of dishing out false news like in more than four occasions now.
Please there is no 500 people that was kidnapped"[/size]- Military Spokesman