Nigerian soldiers
The corpses of dozens of soldiers and civilian Joint Task force
(JTF) members killed by Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, have still
not been evacuated, a SaharaReportersreports has shown.
More than 120 soldiers, including five officers, were killed and
about 200 others are still missing after Boko Haram insurgents attacked a
battalion station in Metele, Mobar Local Government Area, on the
outskirts of Lake Chad Basin.
Troops sent to evacuate the dead soldiers two days later were also attacked.
According to a soldier who escaped from the follow-up attack, the
evacuation team suffered high casualty as they fled, abandoning their
operational vehicles at Metele then trekking 50 kilometers before
getting to cross Kauwa, in Kukawa Local Government Area.
“It is devastating. More than 120 killed, including civilian JTF members who used to assist our men,” he told SaharaReporters.
“We have recovered close to 120 corpses. The terrorists came in
large numbers to attacks them from every angle. They tactically backed
out; many are yet to return from the troops who went on the evacuation
mission.
“The corpses of both soldiers and civilians JTF are yet to be
evacuated. We can’t ascertain the numbers but certainly up to a
battalion, which comprises hundreds soldiers and also with civilian JTF,
the death toll might be higher than a hundred. We are waiting for more
information from those who escaped. But it is a tragedy for the entire
Nigerian military, not just the Army.”
As a consequence of the tragedy, President Muhammadu Buhari is set
to visit Borno, having cancelled a casual leave he was supposed to
embark on from November 27 till December 2.