At least one Nigerian army officer and 17 soldiers died in battle on Sunday after their base came under sudden but vicious attack by Boko Haram terrorists, military insiders familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES.
The army confirmed the attack on Monday but said only one officer and six soldiers were killed. The army also said its officials, including reinforcements, successfully repelled the attack.
Top military sources, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that the army’s public statement deliberately underplayed the attack and that it is not a true reflection of what transpired.
The Nigerian army, like many of the country’s other security agencies, is known for understating casualties and the true situation of events as the country continues to grapple with multiple security challenges.
Our sources said that apart from those killed, no fewer than 43 other soldiers were seriously injured while 50 other personnel remained missing as of Monday morning.
The affected military base, the headquarters of 156 Task Force Battalion in Mainok, was virtually completely destroyed as the Boko Haram terrorists carted away arms and ammunition, burning everything in sight.
Mainok is about 60 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
According to gory pictures of the incident seen by this newspaper, some of the soldiers were attacked with machetes while others were seen with gunshot injuries.
The commanding officer of the battalion, a lieutenant colonel (name withheld), is among the dead.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/457775-18-killed-43-injured-50-missing-as-boko-haram-attacks-military-base-in-borno.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2274083_
The army confirmed the attack on Monday but said only one officer and six soldiers were killed. The army also said its officials, including reinforcements, successfully repelled the attack.
Top military sources, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that the army’s public statement deliberately underplayed the attack and that it is not a true reflection of what transpired.
The Nigerian army, like many of the country’s other security agencies, is known for understating casualties and the true situation of events as the country continues to grapple with multiple security challenges.
Our sources said that apart from those killed, no fewer than 43 other soldiers were seriously injured while 50 other personnel remained missing as of Monday morning.
The affected military base, the headquarters of 156 Task Force Battalion in Mainok, was virtually completely destroyed as the Boko Haram terrorists carted away arms and ammunition, burning everything in sight.
Mainok is about 60 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
According to gory pictures of the incident seen by this newspaper, some of the soldiers were attacked with machetes while others were seen with gunshot injuries.
The commanding officer of the battalion, a lieutenant colonel (name withheld), is among the dead.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/457775-18-killed-43-injured-50-missing-as-boko-haram-attacks-military-base-in-borno.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2274083_