There was confusion in Mainok, a town along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road in Borno state, after soldiers reportedly opened fire on a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives who engaged Boko Haram fighters in a fierce battle.

SARS is a unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
Villages along the road which connects Borno and Yobe states have been badly affected in the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the last one month.

On Monday, the insurgents stormed Mainok in large numbers. Some soldiers and the villagers were said to have taken cover while the attackers reigned unchallenged.

But a combined team of SARS and Rapid Response Squad operatives moved in to confront the insurgents, according to a resident.

Although the battle against insurgency is strictly handled by the military, there are times that the police get involved. In one of such operations carried out by the police earlier in January, three SARS operatives were shot dead by insurgents.

One of the SARS operatives who was deployed in Mainok after Boko Haram struck on Monday, told TheCable that his team spent over one hour battling the attackers.

He said after the Boko Haram fighters beat a retreat and the police teams were pulling out of the location, they came under attack from soldiers.

The operative, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said his team members were shocked that the security operatives could attack them.

“We were deployed in Mainok after we got the information that Boko Haram was operating there. By the time we got there, Boko Haram had killed some people and destroyed their houses,” he said.

“We engaged them in a gun battle that lasted for over one hour. We overpowered them and seized two of their Hilux vehicles and weapons.
Surprisingly as we were on our way out, we were attacked by some soldiers. They fired several RPGs (rocket propelled grenade) at us… one of the armoured personnel carriers (APCs) given to us by the IG was partially damaged.”

The source said the officer who led the operation ordered his men not to fire back at the soldiers. He said things got under control after a reinforcement team of soldiers from Benisheikh, a neighbouring town, got to the location.

TheCable obtained a video showing both sides discussing about the fight against insurgents and the attack from soldiers.

In the video, Ibrahim Muhammad, commander of SARS, narrated how his men tackled the insurgents and the encounter with the aggrieved soldiers.

“When we got there, we saw them (Boko Haram fighters); their identity was not even in doubt. Some were even taking cover beside the wall. We were on them, we were charging in, charging out,” Muhammad said in the video.

“Later, we noticed that they had escaped, the RRS briefed me that while they sighted them (the insurgents) moving in convoy on high speed at the southern part. We were then charging in finally, that was when I noticed that the people on my right hand side were soldiers… As we were coming, they were firing us and I said is it this people again?”

Abdul Kahlifa, general officer commanding 7 division of the army, interrupted him saying: “We will investigate it.”

He briefly inspected the bullet holes on the APC and added: “No problem, we are going to sort it out. Are we not happy to see you people like this? Are you people not happy to see us like this? That is how it should be. Well done! Well done.”

A soldier, who spoke off the record told TheCable that it was aggression that led his colleagues to open fire on the police team.

“Boko Haram terrorists dislodged troops in that area and abducted about 10 soldiers. When the other soldiers who were not on ground at the time of the attack came back, they had an order to just open fire. So, they started shooting with that aggression.”

He declined comments when TheCable inquired on the person who gave the order
TheCable understands that Mohammed Aliyu, commissioner of police in Borno, and Olusegun Adeniyi, theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, have met over the issue. It is unclear the resolutions reached at the meeting.

Elder Okon, spokesman of the Borno police command, neither answered calls nor responded to text message TheCable sent seeking his comments on the incident.

But Musa Sagir, spokesman of the army, who responded briefly, told TheCable that he was not aware of the development.

“I’m not aware but I will find out,” he said over the phone.

The attack on the policemen happened on a day some Borno residents said soldiers abandoned them at the mercy of Boko Haram after Babagana Zulum, governor of the state, levelled allegations of extortion against them .

Two weeks ago, Zulum accused soldiers at a checkpoint on Maiduguri-Damaturu road of extorting motorists.




The police vehicle that soldiers allegedly targetted



Some SARS operatives who took part in the operation against Boko Haram




A truck abandoned by Boko Haram fighters following superior fire power from security operatives



Bullets inside the abandoned vehicle




A minor impact of the gun attack on the bullet proof truck

slimfit1:
Lack of communication again this is what happens when you let people who don't have the right training rule over you. There should be communication in all angles before making any trip like this. It is done everywhere apart from Nigeria.

We engaged them in a gun battle that lasted for over one hour. We overpowered them and seized two of their Hilux vehicles and weapons. 
Surprisingly as we were on our way out, we were attacked by some soldiers. They fired several RPGs (rocket propelled grenade) at us… one of the armoured personnel carriers (APCs) given to us by the IG was partially damaged.”

The source said the officer who led the operation ordered his men not to fire back at the soldiers. He said things got under control after a reinforcement team of soldiers from Benisheikh, a neighbouring town, got to the location.

A shame that some people that address themselves as educated people on the forum cannot read and comprehend a thread so short.
All they are after with their long, evil necks is to look out for any topic with anything negative about our darling nation.
People that the Wall clock in their houses is permanently on 8'O Clock!
One is even saying 'good development'!!
Pessimistic and evil souls.
Losers everywhere!.....2 Time Losers!!

Corrections:
We need more sarrs officers in the north..These guys can do the job better than soldiers

Olominira:
Buhari is about to destroy Nigeria completely, actually I don't understand him. He takes Nigeria a step forward and Two steps backward. The recruitment of the so called repentant BH into the army is dangerous. He's too soft on all crimes committed by his people.

The current happening in the country is getting noticed by the world powers, the outcry against Amotekun by his government is been closely monitored. The statement came from EU accussing him of doing nothing to Safe the Christians, followed by Nigeria travel ban by the US. These are just warning, the next Maybe sanctions that could lead to recession and hardship.

My advice to him, reposition the security.....let him change the officers. He should stop listening to bad advisers and put national interest above that of Fulani ethnic group