Army Loses 24 More Soldiers After Metele Attack *Defence ministry debunks video of 'Zamfara massacre'

Despite confidence-boosting measures, including promotions, new  postings and redeployment, the Nigerian Army has lost 24 more soldiers since the attacks and killing of 23 soldiers of the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, Borno State last November by  terrorists.

Survivors of the  attacks have also continued to lament the freezing of their salary accounts and  lack of arms and ammunition with which to engage the terrorists. 

Some of the soldiers, who spoke to the media, complained of difficulties accessing funds for feeding and other basic provisions.

But unnerved by the setbacks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, who described terrorist groups, Boko Haram, as "a band of criminals" in his goodwill message  at Christmas, asked soldiers in the theatre of war to remain alert and vigilant while deploying tactics obtained from "superior training" maintaining that the army had "superior firepower."
This came on a day the Ministry of Defence debunked reports that protesting civilians were "massacred" by soldiers in Zamfara State.

In an attack a few weeks after Metele, 12 soldiers were killed when the insurgents attacked a military base near Gudumbali Local Government Area of Borno State while others were unaccounted for.

Gudumbali is an area where the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, is active.

The attack was unleashed by terrorists while soldiers distributed relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP).

The latest attack took place on Christmas day when insurgents ambushed soldiers manning Damaturu-Maiduguri Road killing 12 soldiers and one policeman while many others were wounded.
An orderly to Yobe Governor's ADC was also killed in the attack in Kukarita town in Damaturu.
The attack, which was confirmed by the army left hundreds of passengers from different parts of the country stranded in Damaturu, Yobe State capital on their way to Maiduguri.
The road was in a lockdown for 13 hours following the attack.
Meanwhile, in his goodwill message to troops at Christmas, Buratai said the terrorists were a "band of criminals".
"It is pertinent for troops to understand that Boko Haram terrorists are nothing but a band of criminals.
"Therefore, you must all brace up to clear and flush out their remnants. We have superior training, fire power and experience. We have a history of successes on the battlefield both at home and abroad.
"This must be reflected in all our operations. I thank you all for the good job you have done in 2018 and look forward to us making greater progress in 2019", he said.
Also speaking to troops of Sector 3 of  Operation Lafiya Dole at a different event, Buratai, who spoke through the Sector Commander, Major General Olufemi Akinjobi, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of troops and urged them to be alert at all times as well as maintain good fighting spirit and momentum.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Defence on Wednesday dismissed reports of  a trending online video where soldiers allegedly "massacred" civilians protesting incessant attacks by bandits in Zamfara State.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the fact of the matter was that, yesterday Monday 24th December 2018, at about 6.35am, the troops deployed at Tsafe Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) received a report of protest action by the some suspected Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) mostly from Asola village in Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA). They were allegedly protesting against the security situation in their areas and lack of care. 

"They were initially cautioned by the Emir of Tsafe on the protest action but they were adamant and continued with the protest. They were however joined by youths mostly identified as Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the area. The CJTF armed with Dane guns, clubs and other dangerous objects, attempted to attack the Divisional Police Station office, Tsafe, but were stopped by the police on duty. They later moved to the streets, blocking Tsafe-Gusau highway, burning tyres and setting Tsafe LGA Secretariat ablazed," it said in a statement.

It further noted that "in the course of the protest, some vehicles parked at the Secretariat were also burnt. They destroyed Administration offices, files, office equipment and other valuable items. It was in that process that the troops intervened. 

"It is imperative to also state that there was an attempt to also burnt down the residence of the Chairman Tsafe LGA by the protesters, due to timely intervention of our troops, they could not achieve their aim. The troops also arrested one of the protesters, an identified CJTF with a Dane Gun. The suspect and the exhibit have been handed over to the police for further interrogation. 

"Indeed, no life was lost and no recorded injuries, it is therefore preposterous for anyone to alleged shooting at the protesters by the troops of the Nigerian Army. Normalcy has since been restored in the affected areas. We enjoin the general public to disregard and ignore such unfounded allegation as it is not true".