Chief of Defence Staff Abayomi Olonishakin has admitted that a number of Nigerian soldiers went missing after a fierce gunfight with Boko Haram insurgents.
Gen. Olonishakin said the soldiers went missing due to some “operational issue” during the battle with the insurgents.
”There were operational issues, but as I speak with you, the troops have re-joined their units,” the defence chief said in Jos Friday when journalists asked him the status of the missing soldiers.
Olonishakin’s confirmation of the incident came hours after the army, after three previous self-contradicting statements, also admitted the incident happened.
PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively and authoritatively reported that at least 105 soldiers attached to the 157 Battalion went missing after they came under intense attack from Boko Haram insurgents in Gudunbali, Borno State, on Wednesday morning.
Reliable military insiders also told the online medium that the insurgents captured a T-72 tank as well as several artillery weapons from the unit.
The army was initially reluctant to answer questions about the incident when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES.
The spokesperson of the army, Col. Sani Usman, before the story was published, directed us to forward our enquiries to officials of 7 Division in Maiduguri.
However, the spokesperson of the 7 Division, Col. Tukur Gusau also declined to comment, saying the commander of the division would address a press conference on the issue later on Thursday and that it was improper for him to pre-empt his commanding officer.
However, after our story ran, Usman called our reporter to officially confirm that the attack indeed took place as reported.
“I want to confirm the incidence at Gudunbali but the details you provided were not correct. The unit attacked is within the area of responsibility of the MNJTF and troops are now organising to counteract the attack,” he said.
However, he did not give contrary details of the attack to counter PREMIUM TIMES account of the incident. He merely added that the theatre of command would provide details during a press conference in Maiduguri later on Thursday.
At the press briefing, attended by our reporter in Maiduguri, the Commander of 7 Division Yushau Abubakar, also admitted that the troops were involved in a major clash with the insurgents. He further stated that several causalities were recorded on both sides.
“Our troops were attacked in Gudumbali where we dislodged the Boko Haram there. We had an attack and we are sorting it out. But I have not heard anything relating to what is being reported in the media, he said.
He however became evasive when pressed further for details of the attack by journalists.
“I have spoken with the CO (commanding officer) there even this morning and I have not heard anything of such from him. Yes, we went to Gudumbali and we were attacked and we repelled them and we are currently sorting out the situation. In war, anything can happen and the operation is ongoing.”
However, later on Thursday evening, the military issued a statement describing the report of the attack as a product of “the imagination of those sympathetic to Boko Haram ways of life.”
“The attention of the Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole was drawn to an online media publication saying troops of 157 Task Force Battalion were overran by the Boko Haram terrorists in Guzamala axis of Borno State and that several personnel were killed and several others cannot be accounted for including the Commanding Officer of the Unit, the statement signed by Gusau read.
At no point in our two reports on the matter did PREMIUM TIMES say the soldiers were killed. We merely reported that they were missing.
“The Theatre Command wants to state clearly that the story is a fabrication from the imagination of those sympathetic to Boko Haram ways of life.
“Although the location of 157 Battalion was attacked last Wednesday and was subsequently repelled by the gallant troops of the Unit, the Commanding Officer of the Unit is in contact with his Brigade Commander.
“However, the unit suffered some casualties which is normal in military operations. The affected personnel sustained minor injuries but no gunshot wound was sustained by the troops.
“The number of casualty and equipment lost as being circulated is not correct. The situation was unnecessarily blown beyond proportion to give terrorists the type of propaganda they desired,” he stated.
However, in another statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, however admitted the return of the missing soldiers, lamenting that the army suffered a “slight setback”.
“Nigerian troops operating in the Northern Borno State towns of Gudumbali and Kareto had slight setback within the week. However, the situation is being stabilized.
“The troops have re-joined their units for further action.
“The earlier media reports were exaggerated. The CO (Commanding Officer) is currently with his soldiers.
“The incident was just a minor setback, which is common in military operations,” Usman said in a brief statement.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the commanding officer, alongside a few other soldiers, emerged from the bush in a van several hours after the encounter.
It was also gathered that some injured soldiers were taken to the 7 Division hospital in Borno State.
-PT