Six Presidential Guards Brigade soldiers still missing, 3 days after terrorists’ ambush
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A Lieutenant and five other soldiers in the elite Presidential Guards Brigade are still missing three days after their joint patrol with the 7 Guards Battalion on the Bwari-Kubwa road was ambushed by terrorists.
Sources said Captain Samuel Attah who was killed was from Kogi, the same state of Lieutenant Ibrahim Suleiman who is among those Missing In Action (MIA).
Attah is reportedly the son of retired Colonel Ahmodu Babanawa who hails from Ibaji/Okpo in Olamaboro Council in Kogi.
The Nigerian Army Guards Brigade provides security for the Presidential Villa in Abuja and neighbouring communities.
The attack happened 24 hours after terrorists in a video on Sunday named President Muhammad Bihari, Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other government officials as their next targets.
“Troops on routine patrol along Kubwa-Bwari road were ambushed by suspected terrorists. Three soldiers were injured during the attack. The soldiers have been evacuated for medical attention,” an intelligence source told Vanguard.
He disclosed that those injured are receiving treatment at a military medical facility in Abuja and efforts are on to locate and rescue the MIAs.
Another source said it is likely some soldiers who escaped the ambush with bullet wounds have paid the supreme price but until they are found, they will still be considered as MIA.
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Army solicits information from public
Guards Brigade spokesman Captain Godfrey Anebi Abakpa confirmed on Monday that terrorists ambushed troops as they patrolled the Bwari area based on intelligence that the Nigerian Law School in Bwari may be attacked.
Authorities at the Law School alerted the public that terrorists had dropped a letter threatening an imminent attack.
Abakpa recounted that it was when troops responded to the fears of the Law School and residents of the area that the terrorists attacked the troops combing the vicinity.
He said the attack taking place around Bwari “shows the terrorist were actually within the location and possibly preparing to carry out their plans to attack the Nigerian Law School in Bwari as earlier reported.”
He advised residents of the area to act lawfully and to keep on cooperating with the security agencies by providing them with information to enable them defeat terrorists.
“Yes, they (troops) were attacked and the attack was successfully repelled. We had a few wounded in action who have been taken to the hospital and are receiving treatments,” Abakpa explained, per reporting by Vanguard.
“At the moment our troops are still combing the general area to get rid of the criminals that have been threatening the general area.
“It is advised that residents go about their lawful businesses and keep cooperating with us by giving us timely information to enable us win the fight against the criminals.”
