Soldiers Kill 20 Boko Haram Insurgents

The Nigerian military said yesterday that it has foiled an attack by suspected members of the Boko Haram on some communities in troubled Borno State.
Twenty members of the outlawed sect were also killed, the military said.
The military stated this in a statement by the spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Maj Gen Chris Olukolade.
“Attempts by terrorists to attack Ajiri and Mafa as well as other communities in the outskirt of Maiduguri and Dikwa in Borno State towards the Cameroon borders, yesterday (Wednesday) were foiled by the security forces,” Olukolade said.
“The ambush mounted by the terrorists to enable them unleash terror on the communities unchallenged, was also cleared by troops on reinforcement mission.”
Olukolade said various arms including machine guns and improvised explosive devices were recovered from the attackers.
“Twenty insurgents died in the encounter, while own troops sustained varying degree of injuries. Also, more camps were destroyed yesterday in encounters at various forests and mountain locations around Adamawa and Borno States,” the spokesperson said.
Hundreds of people have been killed by the insurgents in recent weeks as they attacked different villages outside Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Hundreds of houses and vehicles were also burnt by the insurgents, who seemed to be able to attack unhindered.
Perhaps, reacting to the various condemnations, Olukolade said “the Defence Headquarters has noted with grave concern the inflammatory pronouncements by some highly placed persons in government and some apparently sponsored commentators in and outside the country who have consistently given false and misleading remarks to describe the disposition of troops in the ongoing operations.
“It has become clear that this sustained campaign is intended to demoralize the troops and give impression that the military is overwhelmed by the terrorist group. This tendency is unfortunate to say the least.”
Though no specific names were mentioned, top public officials including the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, and senators in Borno had criticised the Federal Government for the handling of the crisis.
Shettima had after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan last month lamented that the soldiers in his state were not adequately equipped or motivated to face the Boko Haram.
He urged the Federal Government, which controls security agencies including the military, to do more to quell the insurgency.
The new Chief of Army Staff, Jacob Minimah, also recently told the National Assembly that the Army was not adequately funded.
Olukolade, however, says the military would not be overwhelmed by the insurgents.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, it is hereby restated that the Nigerian military cannot by any standard be overwhelmed by the insurgents neither will the devious antics of their sympathisers and sponsors demoralize the fighting spirit of troops.
“Nigerians and indeed all well-wishers are enjoined to discountenance the propaganda messages of the terrorists and their backers alleging the inability of Nigerians troops to handle the insurgency,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday gave an assurance that the military would do everything possible to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
Badeh gave the assurance in Abuja when the Caucus of House of Representatives members from Adamawa, led by Rep Anthony Madwatte, paid him a courtesy visit.
He said that the military was doing all it could to root out the insurgents.
Badeh also assured the legislators that the situation would be normalised to enable them to go back home and campaign when the time comes.
The CDS thanked the National Assembly for the support to the military to effectively carry out its duty.
“We are not custodians of democracy but we are defenders of democracy; we are to ensure that democracy thrives, so that everybody can go about doing their business,’’ he said.
Badeh also called on those with useful information on how to prosecute the on-going war against terrorists to volunteer such, and assured that they would be protected.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Madwatte had said they were at Defence Headquarters to congratulate Badeh on his appointment as the CDS.
Madwatte also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for elevating Badeh to the position of CDS.

Chairman, Bulet International, Malam Sumaila Funtua (left), with Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, at the Peoples Media Limited Conference in Abuja, yesterday