Nigeria's army chief cautions soldiers on Boko Haram's easy attack of military formation

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Nigeria's COAS during a recent visit to Yobe state

The Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, had yesterday warned his soldiers in Yobe state against allowing the repeat of an attack on their formation by Boko Haram terrorists which caused the lives of three soldiers, a statement from the army said. 

Though soldiers who were almost taken by surprise when the terrorists came attackinng had been able to regain their balance and decimated the attacking insurgents, residents of Gaidam where the attack was carried out lamented that vital intelligence on the attackers was neglected by troops. 

COAS Buratai who upon his assumption of office vowed to work with zero tolerance to indiscipline by officers and men under his command,  did not however hide his displeasure over how troops allowed the Gaidam attack on soldiers happened. 

A statement by the Spokesman of the nation's army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, indicate that though the terrorists were trailed to the outskirts of Gaidam where they were all gunned down, the army chief who personally visited the community few hours after the face off, inspected the damages done and insisted that such pocket of attacks must not repeat itself again. 

"The Nigerian Army wishes to confirm an attack on Sector 1 of 27 Task Force Brigade located at Gaidam, Yobe State,  yesterday Wednesday evening"said Colonel Usman who is the Acting Director Army Public Relations. 

"The attack was successfully repelled by the troops and the reinforcement sent. The troops killed most of the attacking terrorists and destroying their weapons and equipment. However and regretfully too, we lost 3 soldiers and some equipment during the encounter.

"The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai who was on operational visit to North East,  personally visited the troops location, assessed the damage done. He warned the officers of the unit that such ugly incident should not be allowed to happen again. 

"The COAS also drove into the town and further assessed damage by the terrorists and gave further directives to the troops for the defence and improved security of the general area. He also met with some of the community leaders and Idris Aloma Polytechnic staff where he assure them of their safety and improved security.  
"The situation in Geidam is now calm and people are going about their normal businesses.

"The Chief of Army Staff was received at Geidam  by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General Hassan Umaru and Acting Commander 27 Task Force Brigade who led the reinforcement team last night. 

More soldiers deployed to Geidam

"The COAS was accompanied on the visit by the Theatre  Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yusha'u Abubakar, the Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Major General Fatai Alli, as well as Acting Director of Military Intelligence, Acting Provost Marshall and Director of Campaign Planning, as well as the Acting Director Army Public Relations and the Liaison Officer of the Multinational Joint Taskforce.

"The Nigerian Army wishes to assure the public that this isolated incident would not be allowed to repeat itself. We reaffirm our determination and commitment to route out the Boko Haram terrorists in all their enclaves before the end of this year. 

"The Chief of Army has continued his operational visit to other formations and units within the theatre of war against the Boko Haram terrorists". 

Meanwhile residents of Yobe state who witnessed the attack on Gaidam said the terrorists came in late hours of the day when traders were rounding off their commercial activities in the popular Gaidam market that normally holds every Friday. 

Fati Umar, a civil servant in Gaidam noted that soldiers ordered resident to quickly return to their homes as they had received report of an imminent attack. 

"It was when we all rushed into our homes that the Boko Haram invaded the market amidst heavy exchange of fire as they looted many shop, carting sea food items and cash from broken shops", said Mrs Umar. 

"They loaded many abandoned trucks with food items, some with car spare parts. But thank God a military jet fighter came on time  and most of the terrorists were killed by troops on ground and those bombarding from the air". 

She said a pickup van loaded with loaves of bread was almost abandoned by the fleeing terrorists; which indicated that they were trying to stockpile food and other consumables. 

Sani Grema, a resident of Gaidam town lamented that the Boko Haram terrorists had days before the Wednesday attack been ambushing residents and farmers along the eastern flank of the town. He said most part of the eastern routes leading of Gaidam that share borders with Damasak remained porous, calling on the army authorities to block that deadly path.