Nigerian troops carrying out cordon and search operations in Baga community of Borno State have continued to discover more arms of various background and shapes abandoned in some houses and surrounding communities by fleeing terrorists, the Defence Headquarters has said.
Nigerian soldiers on armour tank seized from Boko Haram in Konduga
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said heaps of weapons, most of which were strange looking or destroyed, were still being gathered.
Many abandoned or destroyed motorcycles have also been discovered, the defense spokesman added.
He, however, said a soldier was stabbed while another was shot during a close range battle, which ensued as troops involved in cordon and search caught up with some of the fleeing terrorists Saturday evening.
Mr. Olukolade added, “A number of individuals who claimed to be residents are also being interrogated in order to ascertain their identity and motive. The group consisting mostly women continued to hail and cheer the troops as they conduct thorough search in the area.
“Wanting to be sure the group was not working for the terrorists despite the excitement, they had to be placed under watch.
“The cordon and search as well as patrol of the localities continue while the offensive on terrorists is progressing in other areas of the theatre of the counter terrorist campaign”.
It would be recalled that Nigerian troops had on Saturday reclaimed Baga and other surrounding communities after days of fierce battle against the insurgents.
Thomas 34, a refugee from Baga currently resides in Waru, an outskirt community in Apo Abuja. On January 5, 2015, Thomas, a Farmer, as well as other members of his small fishing community said that he had trekked over 5 kilometer’s to escape insurgents in a massive attack that had left his brother missing his friend dead after the terrorists onslaught on the Military (MJTF) Operational Headquarters in Baga.
Boko Haram
Thomas received news from home that Nigerian military has conquered Boko Haram in the battle that led to the victory and reclaiming of Baga from the terrorists sierge.
Thomas who spoke to a reporter with NewsWireNGR agency expressed his excitement at the news as same holds for others living in the IDPs Camp, initially thought an impossible feat, Thomas had to confirm the news of the Troops victory from an Uncle who currently lives in Baga.
He said: “We are really happy with what has been happening over there at Baga, i called my uncle and he said the military have won.”
An excited Thomas, who expressed who expressed confidence though he lacks knowledge of the whereabouts of his family members, he his sure that that they will all return Home.
“Several of my family members, I don’t know where they are now and I cannot reach them, but I know that if they hear that Baga is safe they will try and return there.”
Narrating the Story of his displacement from Baga, Thomas said: “I was in the farm with my brother and he decided to pack some yams home when he was gone, I started hearing gun-shots and heavy sounds like bombs, so I ran into the bush. After walking for long I saw other people with leathers and bags in their hand and we all started heading by foot towards Maiduguri. I have not heard from my brother since then, I hope he is alright.”
Thomas had no blames for anyone as he only looks forward to being re-united with members of his family and his friends and the Victory For Nigeria in Baga has brought a significant ray of hope after weeks of despair.
Apparently disgusted at the activities of the Boko Haram Terrorists and their promoters, he hoped that they never return to his beloved Baga again. “It is just that we dont know if this Boko Haram people will return again”. Thomas said.
And no matter the reservations of the doubting thomases, To Mr. Thomas from Baga, our troops victory is assured and offers him a much awaited chance to go back home.
Without stopping, Nigerian military has continued to show its might by claiming the territories which had fallen in the hands of the dreaded terrorist, Boko Haram in the North East of Nigeria.
Boko Haram and Nigeria soldiers
According to the information posted on its page on Saturday by The Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, The troops have succeed in flushing Boko Haram out of Baga, a town that was taken weeks back with more than 2000 Nigerians killed, according to a report by Amnesty International.
It could be recalled that NAIJA CENTER NEWS published a debunk by the military that both soliders, civilians and terrorists that died in Baga were not less than 150 contrary to AI reports.
Giving details of the operation, Olukolade said large number of terrorists have drowned in the Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by Nigerian Air force heralding the advance of Nigerian troops on mission to flush them out of Baga. Not even the strategy of mining over 1500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops.
All the land mines were skillfully cleared one after the other. Eventually, the resistance of the terrorists collapsed and the land forces finally stormed the town in the early hours of Friday.
Many of the terrorists died while an unknown but substantial number of them fled with various degrees of injury, in the series of encounter along the routes of advance of the as troops headed for Baga.
Apart from the 5 anti air craft guns and the rifles captured from the terrorists, over 34 motorcycles and 5 vehicles including trucks being used for operations by the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the fighting as troops headed for Baga. The troops finally began clearing the terrorists from Baga on arrival in the town early Saturday morning.
A comprehensive cordon and search phase of military operation has now commenced to enable troops mop up arms and ammunition and also apprehend any terrorist who might be hiding in the vicinity. The exercise will also determine details of the casualties inflicted or incurred in the course of the operations to clear Baga and environ of terrorists.
Similar exercise is being carried out in over 15 locations namely Gajigana, Ngaze, Ngenzai, Marte Junction, Mile 90, Yoyo, Kekeno, Kukawa, Cross Kauwa,, Kangarwa, Amirari, Kichimatari, Borokari Barati, Kauwa and other localities where troops have flushed out the terrorists in the operations preceding the entry to Baga. The troops are now dominating and conducting aggressive patrols in the locations. The morale of troops remain high.
The Amnesty International on Wednesday released the satellite images of last week’s attack on the towns of Baga and Doron Baga by the Boko Haram sect.
Boko Haram killed in Bama
Based on its promise to investigate the scale of the attacks, the AI had commissioned and got the satellite data of the area from the commercial provider, DigitalGlobe, following initial reports of the attack.
AI, in a press release, condemned the killings, describing the act as “the largest and most destructive” of the Boko Haram attacks.
It said that the images contradicted with the figure given by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.Gen. Chris Olukolade, where he said those killed in Baga could not be more than 150.
According to the human rights organisation, the images together with the stories of those who survived the attack suggested that “the final death toll could be much higher than this figure.”
A researcher for Amnesty International in Nigeria, Daniel Eyre, said, “These detailed images show the devastation of catastrophic proportions in the two towns, one of which was almost wiped off the map in the space of four days.
“Of all Boko Haram assaults analysed by Amnesty International, this is the largest and most destructive yet. It represents a deliberate attack on civilians whose homes, clinics and schools are now burnt out and ruined.”
The human rights organisation asked the Boko Haram sect to stop killing civilians, noting that the deliberate destruction of lives and properties were war crimes and crimes against humanity which must be duly investigated.
The AI said the destruction shown in the images confirmed the horrific testimonies that the organisation had gathered.
It said that interviews with eyewitnesses as well as with local government officials and local human rights activists suggested that Boko Haram militants shot hundreds of civilians.
A man in his 50s, narrated what happened during the attack to Amnesty International.
He said, “They killed so many people. I saw maybe around 100 killed at that time in Baga. I ran to the bush. As we were running, they were shooting and killing.”
The witness said he hid in the bush and was later discovered by Boko Haram fighters, who detained him in Doron Baga for four days. Those who fled described seeing many more corpses in the bush.
“I don’t know how many but there were bodies everywhere we looked,” one woman told Amnesty International.
The statement by AI partly read, “The analysis shows just two of the many towns and villages that fell victims to a series of Boko Haram attacks which began on January 3, 2015.
“The number of structures damaged or destroyed in Doron Baga is likely to be higher than the 3,100 identified, but it proved difficult to delineate and confirm individual structures in the densely packed areas and under tree canopies.
“Before and after images of two neighbouring towns, Baga (160 kilometres from Maiduguri) and Doron Baga (also known as Doro Gowon, was 2.5 km from Baga), taken on January 2 and 7, show the devastating effect of the attacks which left over 3,700 structures damaged or completely destroyed. Other nearby towns and villages were also attacked over this period.
“In Baga, a densely populated town (that is) less than two square kilometres in size, approximately 620 structures were damaged or completely destroyed by fire.
“In Doron Baga, over 3,100 structures were damaged or destroyed by fire affecting most of the four square kilometre town. Many of the wooden fishing boats along the shoreline, visible in the images taken on January 2, are no longer present in the January 7 images tallying with eye witnesses’ testimony that desperate residents (that) fled by boat across Lake Chad.
The AI expressed concern that thousands of people have fled the violence across the border to Chad and to other parts of Nigeria, including Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
It called on the Federal Government to take all possible legal steps to restore security in the North-East and ensure protections of civilians.
The NIgeria military has debunked the wide spread speculation that Boko Haram killed 2000 innocent Nigerians during an attack that lasted for several hours in Baga, Borno state.
Amnesty International had put the figure on 2000 saying it is the largest massacre by the dreaded clown Islamic sect called Boko Haram. The Military headquarter admitted that a number of people were killed in the attack but dispute the figure as alleged.
Boko Haram killed in Bama
According to the information posted on the military official website on Monday, it reads “As you might be aware, there was another terror attack on the town of Baga in Borno state last week which left a number of people dead. Following that unfortunate attack, a lot of speculations and conjectures have been peddled by a section of the press particularly the on-line media regarding the casualty rate. Some claimed that over a thousand people were killed while others wrote with certainty that 2000 people lost their lives in that singular attack.
“Without any doubt, terrible atrocities have been committed against innocent Nigerians in Baga by the rampaging terrorists who attacked and have been operating in the town since 3 January 2015. Necessary actions are being taken to put an end to the activities of the terrorists and restore law and order to the community. T
“To this end, a lot of covert operations including surveillance activities which recorded series aerial photographs are ongoing in that vicinity. It is however necessary to inform Nigerians in the interim that the exercise so far have not corroborated the report on the casualty rate which was put at 2000 deaths. From all available evidences, the number of people who lost their lives during that attack has so far not exceeded about 150 in the interim. This figure includes many of the terrorists who were bearing arms and got killed in the course of their attack and battle with troops.
“It should be noted that Baga and the neighbouring towns have been under series of attacks and harassment by terrorists. In the course of this, many residents have left, leaving the population in the town almost seriously depleted. Many were also able to escape while the terrorists’ battle with troops lasted. The figure given by sources who claim to be eye witnesses must be an extremely exaggerated estimate. Unfortunately, this figure is now being bandied about in a section of the media as if it has been authenticated. It cannot be true.
“It is pertinent to once again urge the media to be circumspect in adopting casualty figures especially the ones given to them by the so-called eye witness, who in most cases, are influenced by their own perspectives.
“In any case, this is no time to debate about casualty figures or number of deaths as the life of any Nigerian is important. Much as the intention which could be with the aim of drawing attention to the atrocities being committed by terrorists group in Nigeria, is most welcome, the need for factual presentation of the situation is equally vital.
“In case the aim of this misinformation is to further the design of those bent on discrediting the government and the military, all well-meaning people should consider it as a disservice to humanity. It is important to remind those who are adept at spewing falsehood or exaggerating situations with intent to embolden the terrorists and diminish the efforts of the security forces, that their actions are inimical to the safety of the innocent Nigerians who have borne the brunt of the terrorist attacks in our country.
“The tendency to celebrate the occasional setbacks while downplaying the efforts and successes at containing the terrorists is unfair and very unfortunate. It is noteworthy that many international bodies are being misled in their interpretation of the situation owing to sensational headlines and stories.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to reiterate its earlier assurance that the military has not given up on Baga or any part of the country where terrorists are marauding. Appropriate plans, men and resources are presently being mobilized to address the situation. We want reassure Nigerians that no portion of Nigeria’s territory has been or will be conceded to terrorists.”
NAIJA CENTER NEWS could recall that the same Nigeria military headquarter had on Saturday, release a press statement supporting the account of the AI while trying to clear its name from its previous accusation by AI on soldiers massacre of innocent citizens.
The soldiers agreed that the interpretation of the recent terrorist attack on Baga was quite valid.
The statement reads “This interpretation of the recent terrorists attack on Baga is quite valid. You will recall that Military has maintained all through that the troops never engaged in any massacre in Baga as some activists and the Media alleged in 2013. We have been insisting that such viciousness and barbarism were more typical of the terrorists’ pattern of operation than the action of the troops.
Unfortunately however some interest groups and terrorist sympathizers for whom it is more convenient continued to misinform the world, have kept attributing the evil to Nigerian troops. The attack on the town by the blood hounds and their activities since January 3rd, 2015 should convince well meaning people all over the world that Boko Haram is the evil all must collaborate to end rather than vilifying those working to check them.
Those who have found it more convenient to insist on labeling the Nigerian Military with allegations of human rights abuse using Baga as a reference should note this development. Let us hope this will encourage them to begin placing blames where they belong. The priority of all our military action in this campaign has been the protection of our civilian population.”
Nigerians are frustrated and no longer have hope on the military to secure their lives in the North where the blood sucking terrorist are taking the lives of those who refused to support their fight on a daily basis.
Though the Nigeria military headquarter had promised several times to reclaim the territories taken by the terrorist group, it seems more towns are being taken over weekly.
Meanwhile, Nigeria top political officials including the President, Goodluck Jonathan has not condemn the attack that took place in Baga but sent condolence message to France where about 17 people were recorded killed.
On the same condolence for the international lives is the Minister of Finance, Okonjo Iweala who twitted his sympathy and expressed sadness on the attack in France, again, no such message was sent to Baga people where hundreds of lives were recorded taken.
The opposition who could have behaved otherwise took to blame game, as usual, scoring political point using the lives of common Nigerians without a condolence message.
Nigeria troops on Friday evening repelled an attack by the Islamic terrorist clowns called Boko Haram around Damaturu after attempts to occupy parts of the town.
Abubakar Shekau
Boko Haram had launched massive attack from different directions of he town on Friday evening, but troops were promptly mobilized to repel the attack that lasted the night resulting in heavy casualty on the terrorists before the rest of them retreated.
According to the information posted on the military website, “weapons including IEDs and Rocket Propelled Grenades captured from the terrorists are being compiled while their dead as well as civilian are yet to be determined.”
The troop head quarter disclosed that the military were still chasing the fleeing terrorists, adding that 5 of the soldiers were injured in the attack and currently receiving medical attention in the military medical facility.
The military said the situation in Baga is being studied to determine the appropriate action that will restore law, order and normalcy to the community after the attack mounted by hundreds of heavily armed terrorists last weekend.
The headquarter received that Nigeria lost 14 of his gallant soldiers to the attack, while over 30 who were wounded are receiving medical attention, those declared mising are rejoining their unit in the ongoing reorganization for further operations.
Several of the terrorists died in the course of the attack and effort at repelling the assailant proved worthless, the military headquarter disclosed on Saturday..
“The Nigerian military has not given up on Baga and other localities where terrorists activities are now prevalent. Appropriate plans, men and resources are presently being mobilized to address the situation. The Nigerian component of the Multinational Joint Task Force which retreated from its Baga Headquarters last weekend and more of the troops are regrouping for necessary debrief and briefing for subsequent missions.
It is necessary to reassure Nigerians that the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies are capable of flushing out the terrorists from Baga and all parts of the nation’s territory where their activities are prevalent. No portion of Nigeria’s territory has been or will be conceded to terrorists.
The use of all available resources within the armed forces will continue to be maximized to sustain the tempo of the counter terrorism campaign towards containing and eradicating terrorism in the nation’s territory. The support and understanding of all partners and neighboring countries will however continue to be utilized where available and relevant in the conduct of the mission and in line with existing agreement and understanding.” It added.
Over 11 soldiers and scores of civilians were reportedly killed when the Boko Haram sect attacked the army base in Baga, Borno State on Saturday, a security source and witnesses said on Monday.
Nigerian soldiers
The Islamists attacked the northeastern town of Baga and the barracks on its outskirts on Saturday, potentially providing a launchpad for more attacks in the country and other neighbouring nations.
Lying at the end of a semi-desert road, Baga is the headquarters of a multinational force comprising troops from Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.
Soldiers and civilians had fled the town after the attack on the Army base.
Unconfirmed report also said that 18 female soldiers attached to the base were feared dead as they had not been found since the invasion.
The group’s five year insurgency to establish an Islamic state has killed many thousands in Africa’s top economy and most populous nation. More than 10,000 died in the violence last year, the Council on Foreign Relations says.
Witnesses who escaped to the bush said they ran past the bodies of soldiers and civilians along the way.
“I was hiding on a tree top since that Saturday night until this morning at 3 a.m.,” Abubakar Usman, a Baga resident, told Reuters by telephone.
“Women in a nearby house brought us water and food … We snuck out and on our way, we saw lots of dead soldiers and 10 bodies of women.”
A military source said at least 11 soldiers had been killed along with a large number of civilians around the town, which was still in the militants’ hands on Monday.
He said they set fire to houses and shot at residents as they tried to flee. The military did not immediately respond to a request for official comment.
“They are still there and many people (civilians) mostly women, children and aged one are still trapped in the town,” a man who works between the city of Maiduguri and Baga said.
Another witness, who gave his name only as Yusuf, said he tripped and fell as he tried to flee the town. When he got up, he saw about 20 bodies scattered along the ground where he was.
On Saturday, it was reported that the sect killed 15 people when they attacked a bus in Cameroon.
Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri and Daji Sani in Yola
Seeming to resume from the Yuletide holidays, the Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday struck again with vengeance, capturing Baga, a fishing community in Borno State, as well as killing scores of persons in Yobe State.
Boko haram in Borno
Some residents of the fishing community, who escaped the insurgents’ onslaught, said in Maiduguri that the Islamic fundamentalists had hoisted their flag at the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) after attacking the military base.
The capture of the base had sent many fleeing into Maiduguri, the capital of the troubled Borno State.
Thousands of the fleeing residents were yesterday seen at the Baga motor park in Maiduguri, while some anxious residents of the state capital were also seen waiting for their relatives.
One of the escaped residents, Ibrahim Kaka, who arrived Maiduguri around 5pm yesterday, told THISDAY that he slept in the bush and trekked many miles before he got a bus which brought him to Maiduguri.
He said: “It was around 5am yesterday (Saturday) when we started hearing gunshots and they gained entrance into the Multinational National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) premises where they killed many civilians living in the barracks.”
Another fleeing resident, Modu Isa, said that the insurgents also followed people fleeing into the bush where they killed many people.
“They did not spare anybody as they shot at men, women and even children who were fleeing into the bush,” he added.
During THISDAY’s visit to the motor park, some residents of
Maiduguri were seen searching for their relatives living in Baga.
The fleeing residents have now occupied the Jajeri Primary School behind the Baga market.
A military source told THISDAY that the Boko Haram terrorists attacked the base of the Multinational Joint Task Force and killed dozens of soldiers.
He said the attack caught the soldiers unawares and were “practically dislodged” by the insurgents.
The source said: “It was an ugly development in Baga on Saturday morning, when the Boko Haram insurgents attacked the base of the Multinational Joint Task Force there and practically dislodged the soldiers. I cannot tell you how bad it was but it was really bad because we heard that the base was attacked unawares, though the extent of damage is yet unknown.”
The Multinational Joint Task Force is the major military deployment that has been keeping the terrorists at arm’s length in the area.
Meanwhile, the sect also attacked Yobe State, killing scores of men including soldiers.
THISDAY gathered that numerous insurgents lost their lives in the attack.
The attack on Yobe was at Babbangida town, the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Area.
A resident of the town, Mohammed Hassan, who spoke on phone to THISDAY yesterday morning, said the insurgents attacked the town at about 6:30pm, engaging security forces in a gun battle.
According to him, the places of battle included the military base located north of the town, the police station at the southern part, the local government secretariat, the Government Lodge as well as the boarding primary school, “all which the terrorists have the intention of destroying”.
He said: “The security forces from what we have seen so far have been able to repel them, but we are still entertaining fear that the battle may continue today (yesterday).”
Hassan said the number of casualties still remains unknown as most of the places of heavy battle were still cordoned off by the military.
Saturday’s attack made it four times major Yobe towns have been attacked by the insurgents within the last one month as the sect has lately attacked Damaturu, Damagum and Geidam, all in December. But the attack on Babbangida town is the first in the new year.
Babbangida is 50 kilometres north of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, and has always been attacked by the insurgents.
It was also confirmed to journalists in Maiduguri that about 40 youths were abducted on Thursday by the terrorists in Malari.
A security source said it has been discovered that the group now has a new camp, known as Modube, close to the notorious Sambisa forest.
The security source said the abducted youths were taken to a location called Modube, a new base of the sect.
“Our office had received the Intel that on January 1, 2015, at about 5pm, some Boko Haram gunmen had invaded one Malari village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, where they killed some of the villagers and abducted some youths, who might have been taken to one of Boko Haram’s hideouts known as Modube Camp,” said the source.
The source added that “Modube Camp is one of the new bases where the Boko Haram insurgents are hiding out”.
Some of the residents of Malari, who escaped the attack told journalists in Maiduguri that the Boko Haram gunmen had attacked their village shortly after the villagers had retired to their homes and asked them to come out to listen to some sermons during which they shot some of them and forcibly took others away.
Bulama Malam, a farmer, told journalists in Maiduguri on Friday that at least 40 youths were taken away from the village.
“They gathered many of us near the house of the village head, after telling us that they wanted to preach to us; and then they began to select young men aged between 12 and 25,” he said.
“I was lucky to escape, because they only selected very young and able-bodied men.”
In the same vein, a bomb exploded at Lugda village of Mahia local government area of Adamawa State yesterday morning, killing one person and injuring many others.
An eyewitness account revealed that the improvised explosive device, IED was suspected to be abandoned by the Boko Haram insurgents during their reign in the area before they were chased out by the combined efforts of the military and the local hunters.
Mahia local government area had been one of the areas captured by the Boko Haram insurgents where they hoisted their flag before it was recaptured.
Our source said as soon as one of the victims of the bomb blast dropped a nylon bag into the fire a loud explosion occurred and resulted in killing one and injuring others who were later rushed to the federal medical center Yola for treatment.
Confirming the incident Adamawa state police public relations officer (PPRO), DSP Othman Abubakar explained that the situation happened as a result of the ignorance of the victims who acted foolishly without finding out what was the content of the nylon bag before throwing it into fire.
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