What
may rightly be considered the worst bloodshed since terrorism became real in
Nigeria a few years ago has been recorded in Borno State where a
clash between gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members and the
military left 185 dead in a single day.
may rightly be considered the worst bloodshed since terrorism became real in
Nigeria a few years ago has been recorded in Borno State where a
clash between gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members and the
military left 185 dead in a single day.
The
Village Head of Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, Mallam Ali, who gave
the figure while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima on Monday, added that
2,000 houses, 62 vehicles and 486 motorcycles were either burnt or
vandalised during the clash in the early hours of Saturday.
Village Head of Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, Mallam Ali, who gave
the figure while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima on Monday, added that
2,000 houses, 62 vehicles and 486 motorcycles were either burnt or
vandalised during the clash in the early hours of Saturday.
The
Presidency which on Monday ordered investigation into the incident,
however, said it believed the figures might have been “grossly exaggerated.”
Authorities of the Defence Headquarters, Abuja had before the Presidency’s
comment, put the casualty figure at 25.
Presidency which on Monday ordered investigation into the incident,
however, said it believed the figures might have been “grossly exaggerated.”
Authorities of the Defence Headquarters, Abuja had before the Presidency’s
comment, put the casualty figure at 25.
Shettima,
who was on an assessment tour of the village and other affected areas,
announced a cash donation of N5m and relief materials
to the victims. He said his government would also pay the medical
bills of those injured.
who was on an assessment tour of the village and other affected areas,
announced a cash donation of N5m and relief materials
to the victims. He said his government would also pay the medical
bills of those injured.
He
said, “We are going to convey those with serious injuries to Maiduguri for
further medical attention at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Others will be taken to the Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital for proper care.’’
said, “We are going to convey those with serious injuries to Maiduguri for
further medical attention at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Others will be taken to the Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital for proper care.’’
He
expressed sadness over the incident and urged the residents of the affected
areas to take it as an act of Allah.
expressed sadness over the incident and urged the residents of the affected
areas to take it as an act of Allah.
The
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, later issued a
statement in which the state Ministry of Works was
directed by the governor to start the reconstruction of the burnt houses.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, later issued a
statement in which the state Ministry of Works was
directed by the governor to start the reconstruction of the burnt houses.
The
statement added, “The number of persons killed as well as houses destroyed has
not been accurately ascertained by any competent authority as government awaits
the report of its committee or any reliable source of information to ascertain
accurate figures.”
statement added, “The number of persons killed as well as houses destroyed has
not been accurately ascertained by any competent authority as government awaits
the report of its committee or any reliable source of information to ascertain
accurate figures.”
Commander
of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Gen. Austin Edokpaye, who
shed light on the clash denied that the military engaged in massive
killing of civilians.
of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Gen. Austin Edokpaye, who
shed light on the clash denied that the military engaged in massive
killing of civilians.
Edokpaye,
whose troops are drawn from Nigeria, Chad and Niger, explained that the
incident happened after a patrol van of the task force was attacked by some
suspected terrorists in the evening.
whose troops are drawn from Nigeria, Chad and Niger, explained that the
incident happened after a patrol van of the task force was attacked by some
suspected terrorists in the evening.
“A
patrol team of the task force was attacked by suspected terrorists on Friday
evening killing one soldier and injuring two others. The incident led to
sustained exchange of fire between the team and the terrorists,’’ he said.
patrol team of the task force was attacked by suspected terrorists on Friday
evening killing one soldier and injuring two others. The incident led to
sustained exchange of fire between the team and the terrorists,’’ he said.
Nigeria,
Chad and Niger agreed to establish the force to counter banditry and other
crimes in their common border communities.
Chad and Niger agreed to establish the force to counter banditry and other
crimes in their common border communities.
The
Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who also reacted
to the clash, said the military killed 24 of the insurgents but lost a
personnel whose nationality he did not disclose.
Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who also reacted
to the clash, said the military killed 24 of the insurgents but lost a
personnel whose nationality he did not disclose.
Olukolade
said the soldier was killed while on a mission to rescue some
residents in the besieged village. But he did not give the
number of civilians caught in the crossfire.
said the soldier was killed while on a mission to rescue some
residents in the besieged village. But he did not give the
number of civilians caught in the crossfire.
When
told that the head of Baga village put the casualty figure at 185, he
replied , “Are you sure of that number?”
told that the head of Baga village put the casualty figure at 185, he
replied , “Are you sure of that number?”
He
added, “The information we have here is that the attack was from the Boko Haram
insurgents and there was a distress call on the military that intervened
immediately.
added, “The information we have here is that the attack was from the Boko Haram
insurgents and there was a distress call on the military that intervened
immediately.
“The
casualty we had yesterday (Sunday) was 25 insurgents and then, we lost a
soldier. Actually, it was the soldier, who was in a team (sent) to rescue the
villagers that turned out to be a victim.
casualty we had yesterday (Sunday) was 25 insurgents and then, we lost a
soldier. Actually, it was the soldier, who was in a team (sent) to rescue the
villagers that turned out to be a victim.
“I
don’t have the casualty figure of civilians. I don’t want to give a figure that
is inaccurate or properly not given to me.”
don’t have the casualty figure of civilians. I don’t want to give a figure that
is inaccurate or properly not given to me.”
Meanwhile,
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a full scale investigation
into the Baga clash, saying he was “deeply pained by the
continuation of these needless deaths.”
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a full scale investigation
into the Baga clash, saying he was “deeply pained by the
continuation of these needless deaths.”
Presidential
spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement said the President gave the directive
after receiving preliminary briefings from the Military High Command on the
incident.
spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement said the President gave the directive
after receiving preliminary briefings from the Military High Command on the
incident.
Abati
said while the preliminary briefings indicated that the casualty figures being
reported by the foreign media may be grossly exaggerated, Jonathan assured
Nigerians and the global community that the Federal Government placed the
highest possible value on the lives of Nigerians.
said while the preliminary briefings indicated that the casualty figures being
reported by the foreign media may be grossly exaggerated, Jonathan assured
Nigerians and the global community that the Federal Government placed the
highest possible value on the lives of Nigerians.
According
to him the Jonathan administration will continue to do everything
possible to avoid the killing or injuring of innocent persons during security
operations against terrorists.
to him the Jonathan administration will continue to do everything
possible to avoid the killing or injuring of innocent persons during security
operations against terrorists.
The
statement reads, “Rules of engagement for the military and security agencies
are already in place for this purpose and the investigation ordered by President
Jonathan into the incident in Baga is to among other things, determine whether
or not these rules were fully complied with.
statement reads, “Rules of engagement for the military and security agencies
are already in place for this purpose and the investigation ordered by President
Jonathan into the incident in Baga is to among other things, determine whether
or not these rules were fully complied with.
“The
President has also ordered the National Emergency Management
Authority and federal health agencies to liaise with the Borno
State Government and take urgent steps to provide immediate relief and medical
support for all who suffered losses and injury in the fighting at Baga.
President has also ordered the National Emergency Management
Authority and federal health agencies to liaise with the Borno
State Government and take urgent steps to provide immediate relief and medical
support for all who suffered losses and injury in the fighting at Baga.
“He
commiserates with all those who have regrettably lost their lives in the
fighting, including the soldiers who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice in
the operation against terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria.
commiserates with all those who have regrettably lost their lives in the
fighting, including the soldiers who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice in
the operation against terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria.
“The
President is deeply pained by the continuation of these needless deaths
and will continue to do all within his powers to achieve a lasting peace,
security and stability in all parts of the country.”
President is deeply pained by the continuation of these needless deaths
and will continue to do all within his powers to achieve a lasting peace,
security and stability in all parts of the country.”
Source: Punch
