Nigerian Army has expressed regret over ambush of some staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and staff of University of Maiduguri on oil exploration in Borno Yesu District of Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno state terrorists. Th e army also expressed regret over its earlier statement about the rescue of all NNPC Staff . Army spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman said “the error in the statement was not deliberate.” Some NNPC and UNIMAID staff were ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists on 25 July 2017 while on exploration mission along Chad Basin, leading to the death of some of them and troops of the Nigerian military. Boko Haram had release video of two abducted UNIMAID staff , asking for ransom for their release to the Federal Government.
But army spokesperson said in a latest release that troops are intensifying eff orts to rescue them from the hands of the terrorists. He also said so far the search and rescue team has recovered additional bodies of fi ve soldiers, 11 Civilian Joint Task Force and fi ve members of theexploration team. “Contrary to reports in some media, 6 members of exploration team out of 12 that went out are still missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive,” Usman said. “On the other hand, our pursuit team also recovered 2 of our own Gun trucks and an additional Toyota Buff alo Gun truck from the insurgents.
In addition, the team also made the following recoveries; 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 4 Rocket Propelled Grenade chargers, 6 AK-47 rifl es, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 General Purpose Machine Gun,1 Anti-Aircraft Gun Barrel, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Tube, 4 Dane Guns, 8 Tyres and 2 Tyre Rims. “Other items recovered include 1 Pumping Machine, 2 Tyre Jacks, 1 Super Battery, 5 Reflective Jackets, 3 Toyota Hilux, 4 Jerry cans filled with PMS, 1 Motorola Radio, 1 Geographical Positioning System (GPS), 21 empty Jerry cans, 2 Shovels and 3 Food Coolers. Troops also recovered 122 rounds of PKM ammunition, 213 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 1255 AntiAircraft Guns ammunition, 4 boxes of API 12.7mm ammunition, 1 AK-47 Rifl e Magazine, a Digger, 2 Bows and 13 Arrows, 2 LLG Bombs, assorted drugs and assorted working tools.”
The spokesperson expressed condolence to the families of aff ected staff of UNIMAID and NNPC and troops that died in the incident. Th e Nigerian Army condoles with the families of all that lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. Search and rescue eff orts are on-going,” he said. “We are counting on the goodwill and support of the populace in volunteering valuable information that could help in the search and rescue operation.”
He said the army would continue to furnish the public on its activities in line with best global practice of modern military. “Nigerian Army in this present dispensation is reputed for timely dissemination of information on activities of our troops in all theatre of operations,” he said.
“We have strived to keep the public informed on our activities with no intention of distorting any fact. Our troops have doubled eff orts in the pursuit of the Boko Haram terrorists while search and rescue is still on-going to secure the safe return of the remaining civilians.” Usman said the remnants of the terrorist had resulted to pure criminal activities of kidnapping to gain fund, having being defeated in the strong hold of Sambisa forest and could not engage in coordinated attacks as they used to in the past.
“Th is has been noted and will be jointly addressed in conjunction with other Security Services,” he said. He said the Nigerian Army remains resolute in the fi ght against terrorism and would not relent in its eff ort to safe guard lives of citizens, properties and the territorial integrity of the country
