Manny Ita –
The Nigerian Army has dismissed media reports claiming that 40 soldiers were killed in recent terrorist attacks in parts of Borno State, describing the figures as exaggerated and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Sani Uba, the Media Information Officer of the Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, said the reports failed to acknowledge the efforts of troops who successfully repelled coordinated assaults by insurgents on several communities in the region.
Uba explained that the attackers were remnants of the terrorist group Boko Haram who had earlier been dislodged from the Sambisa Forest.
According to him, the insurgents regrouped and launched coordinated night attacks from multiple directions targeting communities and military formations around Konduga, Ngoshe, Mainok and Jakana.
He said troops responded swiftly to the attacks, engaging the insurgents in intense battles and successfully repelling them while defending the affected communities.
“During the engagements, several terrorists were neutralised,” Uba said.
He added that despite the successful defence of the communities, some soldiers lost their lives during the confrontation.
“Sadly, a Commanding Officer and some brave soldiers paid the supreme price while courageously confronting the attackers and preventing devastation in other communities,” he said.
Uba stressed that troops were not overrun as suggested in some reports, explaining that soldiers fought from multiple fronts to protect civilians and restore order in the affected areas.
He also noted that the attackers used indiscriminate explosives and heavy gunfire during the night assaults, a situation that resulted in civilian casualties as some residents were caught in the crossfire.
The army spokesperson further disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, had visited Maiduguri to assess the security situation and reinforce ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
According to him, the army chief directed the immediate reinforcement of troops and the deployment of additional equipment to sustain pressure on the fleeing insurgents.
He said coordinated ground and air operations were currently underway to pursue the attackers, dismantle regrouping elements and rescue civilians who might have been abducted during the assaults.
Uba urged members of the public to disregard what he described as exaggerated reports aimed at undermining the morale of troops engaged in the counter-insurgency campaign.
“The Nigerian Army remains resolute and committed to decisively confronting the terrorists until lasting peace is restored in the North-East,” he said.
