Amid outrage of the reported death of about 100 soldiers killed in an Army camp in Metele, Borno, the Nigerian Army has said there has been some misinformation on the reports.
It was earlier reported that a lieutenant colonel and military unit commander along with scores of soldiers were killed by rampaging Boko Haram insurgents who overran 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Abadam Local Government Area, Borno, on Sunday, November 18, 2018, at about 6:00 p.m.
According to the report, a large cache of arms, ammunition and military equipment were carted away by the terrorists during the attack, while bodies of fallen troops were still being recovered and evacuated from the scene as of Tuesday.
In a statement on Friday, November 23, 2018, the Nigerian Army said the information that has been spread pertaining to the figures are false and the Army has laid down procedures for reporting incidents that involve its personnel – the statement, however, does not state how many were killed.
Read the statement below:
PRESS RELEASE ON THE ATTACK ON 157 TASK FORCE BATTALION DEFENSIVE LOCATION AT METELE IN GUZAMALA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BORNO STATE
The attention of the NA has been drawn to several social media, print, electronic and online publications about the recent attack on 157 Task Force Battalion at Metele. Whilst it is true that there was an attack on the location on 18 November 2018, it has however, become necessary to correct several misinformation being circulated with regards to this unfortunate event.
It is important for the public to note that the NA has laid down procedures for reporting incidents that involve its personnel who fall casualty in action. Out of respect for the families of our gallant troops, the NOKs are first notified before any form of public information so as to avoid exacerbating the grief family members would bear, were they to discover such from unofficial sources.
Furthermore, it suffices to observe that several social media, print and online publications have been brandishing false casualty figures as well as circulating various footages of old and inaccurate BHT propaganda videos and alluding same to be the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion. Whilst it is understandable how such misinformation can spread in this era of social media frenzy, the spurious circulation of some of these videos only contribute to further propagate the propaganda intent of the terrorists; to misinform the populace and portray themselves as what they are not. So far, the situation is that the location is under control as reinforcing units have been able to repel the terrorists and stabilize the situation.
The NA sincerely, wishes to thank the various arms of government, MDAs and sister security agencies that have stood with her in these trying times; by commiserating with the families of the fallen heroes who have paid the supreme price for the defence of our dearly beloved country. The necessary support being given the NA by the Federal Government and the goodwill of the Nigerian populace will undoubtedly continue to spur the NA towards the ultimate defeat of the highly degraded BHTs.
This is for your information please. You are kindly requested to disseminate same through your various media channels. Thank you.