What may rightly be considered the worst
bloodshed since terrorism became real in Nigeria a few years ago has
been recorded in Borno State where a clash between gunmen suspected to
be Boko Haram members and the military left 185 dead in a single day.
The Village Head of Baga, Kukawa Local
Government Area, Mallam Ali, who gave the figure while briefing
Governor Kashim Shettima on Monday, added that 2,000 houses, 62
vehicles and 486 motorcycles were either burnt or vandalised during the
clash in the early hours of Saturday.
The Presidency which on Monday ordered
investigation into the incident, however, said it believed the figures
might have been “grossly exaggerated.” Authorities of the Defence
Headquarters, Abuja had before the Presidency’s comment, put the
casualty figure at 25.
Shettima, who was on an assessment tour
of the village and other affected areas, announced a cash donation
of N5m and relief materials to the victims. He said his government
would also pay the medical bills of those injured.
He said, “We are going to convey those
with serious injuries to Maiduguri for further medical attention at the
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Others will be taken to the
Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital for proper care.’’
He expressed sadness over the incident and urged the residents of the affected areas to take it as an act of Allah.
The Chief Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, later issued a statement in which the
state Ministry of Works was directed by the governor to start the
reconstruction of the burnt houses.
The statement added, “The number of
persons killed as well as houses destroyed has not been accurately
ascertained by any competent authority as government awaits the report
of its committee or any reliable source of information to ascertain
accurate figures.”
Commander of the Multi-National Joint
Task Force, Gen. Austin Edokpaye, who shed light on the clash denied
that the military engaged in massive killing of civilians.
Edokpaye, whose troops are drawn from
Nigeria, Chad and Niger, explained that the incident happened after a
patrol van of the task force was attacked by some suspected terrorists
in the evening.
“A patrol team of the task force was
attacked by suspected terrorists on Friday evening killing one soldier
and injuring two others. The incident led to sustained exchange of fire
between the team and the terrorists,’’ he said.
Nigeria, Chad and Niger agreed to establish the force to counter banditry and other crimes in their common border communities.
The Director of Defence Information,
Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who also reacted to the clash, said the
military killed 24 of the insurgents but lost a personnel whose
nationality he did not disclose.
Olukolade said the soldier was killed
while on a mission to rescue some residents in the besieged village.
But he did not give the number of civilians caught in the crossfire.
When told that the head of Baga village put the casualty figure at 185, he replied , “Are you sure of that number?”
He added, “The information we have here
is that the attack was from the Boko Haram insurgents and there was a
distress call on the military that intervened immediately.
“The casualty we had yesterday (Sunday)
was 25 insurgents and then, we lost a soldier. Actually, it was the
soldier, who was in a team (sent) to rescue the villagers that turned
out to be a victim.
“I don’t have the casualty figure of civilians. I don’t want to give a figure that is inaccurate or properly not given to me.”
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan
has ordered a full scale investigation into the Baga clash, saying he
was “deeply pained by the continuation of these needless deaths.”
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, in
a statement said the President gave the directive after receiving
preliminary briefings from the Military High Command on the incident.
Abati said while the preliminary
briefings indicated that the casualty figures being reported by the
foreign media may be grossly exaggerated, Jonathan assured Nigerians and
the global community that the Federal Government placed the highest
possible value on the lives of Nigerians.
According to him the Jonathan
administration will continue to do everything possible to avoid the
killing or injuring of innocent persons during security operations
against terrorists.
The statement reads, “Rules of
engagement for the military and security agencies are already in place
for this purpose and the investigation ordered by President Jonathan
into the incident in Baga is to among other things, determine whether or
not these rules were fully complied with.
“The President has also ordered the
National Emergency Management Authority and federal health agencies to
liaise with the Borno State Government and take urgent steps to provide
immediate relief and medical support for all who suffered losses and
injury in the fighting at Baga.
“He commiserates with all those who have
regrettably lost their lives in the fighting, including the soldiers
who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice in the operation against
terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria.
“The President is deeply pained by the
continuation of these needless deaths and will continue to do all
within his powers to achieve a lasting peace, security and stability in
all parts of the country.”
Source: Punch
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