Boko Haram: Military Denies High Casualties in Borno Attack

Boko Haram

The military has rebuffed claims that the troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) suffered high casualties when two military camps were attacked on August 4 at Mallam Fatori in Borno State. Speaking to THISDAY, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade waved off such claims as false.
Olukolade, who was reluctant to speak on the matter when THISDAY enquired about the rumoured killings of 12 soldiers and the disappearance of 20 others, simply said: "It is not true. I don't know where they got that information from." However, it was gathered that that has been some information filtering from unofficial sources within the theatre of operation in Yobe and Borno. It was alleged that some of the soldiers have not been happy at the turn of the events and what they described as the very "limited success" against the insurgents in the last few weeks. This has been linked to the arrival of troops from Malian operations who are yet to master the terrain in Yobe and Borno.
Several wounded soldiers are alleged to be currently receiving treatment at the 79 Compopsite Group, Air Force Base, Maiduguri, Borno THISDAY also learnt that it was only a convoy of heavy military equipment including armoured tanks that was attacked, following which three soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded.
A reliable military source disclosed that it was a
slow moving Payloader conveying armoured tanks with 10 soldiers that was attacked and three of them killed. The source also clarified that non of the troops who recently arrived from Mali was involved or affected by the attacks on Mallam Fatori.
The source said: "No Malian soldiers was attacked, that is not true and this is not a matter of ambush as being reported or who (Malian returnees) does not know the town. It is not even related. "The way they (media) are calling it ambush is not the right term. I would rather call it an attack on a convoy of military equipment including a Payloader that was being used to carry the armoured tanks. You know it is usually a slow moving vehicle. So it was that vehicle with a crew of 10 soldiers that was attacked. They were not even up to 10." Another security analyst, who also confided in THISDAY, disclosed that some "disgruntled elements within the military ranks and civilians have been leaking and spreading information for selfish purposes."
The source accused some his colleagues of being alarmist with a hidden agenda, and with the connivance of their civilian counterparts, have a different agenda to fulfil. "There are two sources to all these falsehoods and conflicting figures. Those sources of information from that area (of conflict) are those within the military who are just sending out information that they think will benefit them and to raise fear.
"Then there are also the civilians who deliberately want to be mischievous. The attacks have been exaggerated," the source said.