Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade
The authorities of the Nigerian
military have arrested senior Army personnel on attachment to the Multi
National Joint Task Force.
Those arrested and placed under movement
restriction are a Brig. Gen, a Lt. Col. and five other officers of the
Nigerian Army deployed to the Baga headquarters of Multinational Joint
Task Force, which was attacked and taken over by members of the Boko
Haram sect on January 5, 2015.
Investigations revealed that the
military authorities arrested the Brigadier-General and six other
officers including a Lt. Col. in Maiduguri and moved them to Abuja for
questioning.
The arrested officers are expected to
answer questions on the loss of men and location, and military equipment
which were taken over by the insurgents.
It was learnt that Baga came under
attack barely 48 hours after the Army moved weapons to fortify the place
in anticipation of a well-coordinated onslaught against the insurgents.
The Army authorities are angry that some of the equipment fell into the hands of the insurgents.
It was learnt that the leadership of the
Army decided to order the arrest of the affected senior officers in
line with military tradition that the senior officers may have lost
command in view of the circumstances surrounding the fall of Baga and
had some clarifications to make.
It was learnt that the Army authorities
would interrogate the affected officials to find out from them the
circumstances surrounding the Boko Haram invasion of the headquarters of
the MNJT and other places under their control.
The Director, Defence Information, Maj.
Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed that officers of the Army on deployment
to the MNJTF were being made to answer questions for the loss of men and
equipment during the Baga attack in a text message to our correspondent
on Friday.
He said that the decision of the Army
leadership was normal as it was designed to gather necessary information
for future operations in the area.
He said, “Nigerian officers in key
command positions of the Multi National Joint Task Force are in the
process of accounting for their action in the mission area leading to
loss of weapons, men and location in their area of responsibility.
“This is a normal military procedure in major operations and after some encounter.
“The essence is to extract and collate
relevant information for subsequent missions. It could also lead to or
determine appropriate disciplinary action where necessary.”
Olukolade also said that troops had
killed a substantial number of insurgents who were operating in Michika,
the headquarters of the Michika Local Government Area.
He said that the troops had commenced an
extensive mopping up operation in search of weapons, stranded
terrorists and casualties.
“An extensive mopping up operation to
search for arms or stranded terrorists and other casualties is ongoing
in Michika after troops sacked the terrorists, who have been operating
in the town and its environ.
“The main assault on terrorists’ main
positions was concluded yesterday (Thursday) as many of them died in the
combat. Troops who sustained injuries in the operation are receiving
necessary medical attention.
“Other troops are continuing the pursuit
of those who are on the run from the town. Normalcy has been restored
accordingly,” he added.
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