WATCH: “They are using us to make money” – Nigerian soldiers complain, military dismisses claims as “propaganda”
Some soldiers have complained bitterly about the lack of provision of adequate and sophisticated arms by the Nigerian Army in their fight against Boko Haram terrorists.
Reports have been circulating that about 100 soldiers of the 157 Task Force battalion were killed by the insurgents days ago in Metele, Guzamala LGA of Borno.
The military, though confirming that there was an attack on troops on November 18, claims the reports of casualty figures are bogus and untrue.
Part of the public outrage has been the relative silence of military authorities on the real situation of things, but it said in a new statement that it was intentional and not an attempt to cover up the killing of soldiers.
“Out of respect for the families of our gallant troops, the NOKS are first notified before any form of public information so as to avoid exacerbating the grief family members would bear, were they to discover such from unofficial sources,” it said.
The Army didn’t directly address the soldiers’ complaints in the video, dismissing it as “inaccurate Boko Haram terrorists propaganda videos”.
“So far, the situation is that the location is under control as reinforcing units have been able to repel the terrorists and stabilise the situation,” it claims.
It also thanked the Federal Government for the “necessary support” given in the fight against the insurgents.
The soldiers’ complaints about obsolete firearms is coming months after President Buhari proposed a release of $1billion (N360 billion) for arms procurement for the military in their fight against Boko Haram in April.
About $2 billion was also allegedly embezzled through the office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of Colonel Sambo Dasuki, during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The military, despite its dismissal of the soldiers’ claims, didn’t say the exact number of soldiers that have been killed.
