Boko Haram Ambush: No UN Casualties – Military
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole on Monday said that none of the four people killed during a cross fire between its troops and Boko Haram insurgents that ambushed the military has been identified as the United Nations’ staff.
Also, it said the Headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole considers the lives of all citizens and indeed all humans sacrosanct, which must be protected by troops even at a supreme price.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations Officer, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu said that this is contrary to reports in a section of the media that four United Nations staff had been killed and four trucks conveying food for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were carted away by the insurgents,
Nwachukwu said; “The report grossly misrepresents the true situation of the incident as none of the casualties in the encounter has been identified as a staff of the UN.
“In setting the records straight, it is necessary to state here that a patrol escorting a convoy of civilian vehicles to Logomani encountered an ambush staged by elements of Boko Haram insurgents at Maula village along Dikwa-Ngala trans-Sahara highway, which resulted in a fire-fight between troops and the insurgents.
“The troops however fought through the ambush, overpowered the insurgents and killed six of them. The troops also captured 3 AK 47 rifles, 3 locally fabricated fire arms, 4 magazines and a belt of 7.62 mm ammunition.
“Sadly four persons died in the encounter. Although none of the persons killed in the ambush has so far been identified as a staff of the UN.”
He said the situation has been brought under control as further exploitation of the general area is currently being carried out by Mobile Strike Team of Operation Lafiya Dole.
