Buratai admits that 23 soldiers were killed in Metele attack saying foreign fighters assisted Boko Haram

NIGERIAN Amy commanders have admitted that 23 of their troops were killed and 31 injured in the recent attack by Boko Haram insurgents on the military garrison in Metele in Borno State.

On November 18, the terrorists struck at the military outpost, catching soldiers of the 157 Task Force Battalion off-guard, killings scores and carting away large scores of ammunition and weapons. Different reports have put the number of military casualties at between 40 and 100 and up until now, the Nigerian Army has refused to divulge the number of dead, with presidency officials saying it was not normal practise for the military to reveal casualty figures.

On until today, the Nigerian Army had refused to disclose how many men it lost and chief of army staff Lt general Tukur Buratai even threatened to take media outlets reporting the story to court. In an about turn, however, General Buratai has admitted that the garrison came under attack, suffered 23 casualties and revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents now use drones and mercenaries to attack troops’ formations.

General Buratai said: “Since 2015, the Nigerian Army in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies have systematically degraded the capabilities and capacity of Boko Haram terrorists and many successes were achieved. However, in the last two to three months, we have noticed daring moves by the terrorists, increased use of drones against our defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks, these potent threats require us to continually review our operations.

“In recent weeks, Nigerian troops deployed in the northeast of Nigeria under Operation Lafiya Dole have come under series of attacks by large numbers of Boko Haram Terrorists. Specifically, the Nigerian Army troops deployed at Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram came under attack at different times within a two-week period between November 2 and 17, 2018 but each of these incidents was successfully repelled and several members of the terrorists killed."

He disclosed that 39 soldiers were killed and 43 others wounded in multiple attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents on various military locations in the past few weeks. According to General Buratai, insurgents attacked Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto, Gajiram and Metele military locations between November and 18 but were successfully repelled by the gallant troops.

General Buratai added:  “Nigeria is contributing troops to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which has its headquarters in N’djamena, Chad and one of the Nigerian battalions the 157 Task Force Battalion, deployed under the auspices of the MNJTF was attacked at their base on the outskirts of a town called Metele on November 18, 2018. During the attack, the troops were forced to withdraw and several casualties were recorded and as at date, 23 personnel were killed in action and 31 personnel wounded and have been evacuated to several medical hospitals within Borno State."

He sympathised with the MNJTF, adding that necessary support would be rendered to the MNJTF to reverse the resurgence of the Boko Haram terrorists. General Buratai gave an assurance that the army will support the bereaved families and continue to care for the wounded soldiers, who he wished speedy recovery.