METELE ATTACK: ARMY EVENTUALLY GIVES RECORDS OF CASUALTIES
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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai in a statement signed by Brig Gen Sani Usman gave the account of numbers of personnel lost during the attack by the Islamic State of West African Province terrorists who attacked the 157 Battalion in Metele in northern Borno on November 18.
The Nigerian Army made the release available late Wednesday which was the first time it would speak on the numbers of causalities noted that it lost 23 personnel while 31 personnel were wounded in action.
Army explains that the wounded personnel have been evacuated to several medical hospitals.
The statement also includes 12 soldiers who were also killed at Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram during the Boko Haram terrorists attack.
Usman said, “Troops deployed in the North-East of Nigeria under Operation Lafiya Dole have come under series of attacks by large numbers of Boko Haram terrorists. Specifically, the Nigerian Army troops deployed at Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram came under attack at different times within a two-week period from November 2 to 17.
“Each of these incidents was successfully repelled and several members of the terrorists were killed. However, a total of 16 personnel were killed in the course of these attacks while 12 soldiers were wounded in action and are receiving treatment at our military medical facilities.
“As you are all aware, Nigeria is contributing troops to the Multi-National Joint Task Force which has its headquarters in N’djamena, in the Republic of Chad. One of the Nigerian battalions, 157 Task Force Battalion, deployed under the auspices of the MNJTF was attacked at their Base on the outskirts of a town called Metele on November 18.
“During the attack, the troops were forced to withdraw and several casualties were recorded. As of this date, 23 personnel were killed in action and 31 personnel were wounded in action and have been evacuated to several medical hospitals within Borno State. The Nigerian Army commiserates with the MNJTF at this difficult time and wishes to state that all necessary support will be rendered to the MNJTF to reverse this resurgence of the Boko Haram terrorists.
“In the last two to three months, we have noticed daring moves by the terrorists, increased use of drones against our defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks. These potent threats require us to continually review our operations.”
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