Nigerian Army confirmed presence of foreign fighters amidst Boko Haram terrorists
…Says 23 soldiers killed, 31 others injured in Metele attack
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the infusion of foreign fighters in the ranks of Boko Haram terrorists that attacked its Metele’s 157 Battalion base in northern Borno in which 23 soldiers were killed on November 18.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, in a statement signed by Brig. Gen. Sani Usman said, “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’’.
The Nigerian Army has maintained silence since the incident, until late Wednesday when it released a statement clarifying the casualties’ figures in the series of attacks.
However, Buratai said in the statement that 31 others that were “wounded in action have been evacuated to several medical hospitals.”
Besides the attack in Metele, 12 soldiers were also killed at Kukawa , Ngoshe , Kareto and Gajiram when the troops came under attacks from the Boko Haram terrorists.
Nigerian Army 157 Battalion is one of the battalions deployed under the auspices of the MNJTF and part of the troops contributed by the Nigeria Government to the Multi -National Joint Task Force which has its headquarters in N ’ djamena , in the Republic of Chad.
Usman also recalled that 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 at Kukawa , Ngoshe , Kareto and Gajiram 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.
“ During the Metele 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.
