No fewer than 13 soldiers were on Monday injured, while some are still missing in action after an attack by Boko Haram terrorists at Gashigar, Borno State.
Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, via a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, said the incident happened at Gashigar, a border area of Northern Borno with Niger Republic.
“Yesterday (Monday) at about 5.30 p.m. suspected escaping remnants of Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops location at Gashigar, border area with Niger Republic, Northern Borno .
“The troops did their best to defend the location.
“In the process, 13 soldiers’ sustained injuries while some are still missing in action.
“The temporary setback made the troops to withdraw from the location.
“However, the wounded soldiers have been evacuated and receiving treatment, while efforts are ongoing in search of those missing and clear the Boko Haram terrorists at the general area,” said.
Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, pledged to support Federal Government efforts, including diplomacy aimed at rescuing the remaining Chibok girls and other Nigerians abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.
Buratai made the pledge while fielding questions from newsmen after inaugurating the new headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Yaba.
He also used the opportunity to clarify that pockets of attack by terrorists in the North-East was not an indication of resurgence of insurgency.
Asked to give update on the Chibok girls, the COAS said: “As for the army, we are working on our own strategy not only for the rescue of the Chibok girls, but other Nigerians that have been abducted by the insurgents.
“It is our objective that we rescue everybody.”
On the pockets of attack, Buratai said that Nigerian troops in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task were addressing the attacks.
“You cannot call these attacks resurgence of insurgency. We are taking care of the attacks.
“Whenever there is attack, we look at it again and see what happens so that we address subsequent ones.
“There is a conflict in which we have done very well. We have gone very far, we have put – terrorists out of our territory.
“They mostly come from outside our territory to attack our troops. We are working along with the Multinational Joint Task Force to address that,” Buratai said.
He said that contrary to impressions, the army was not over stretched with its involvement in many operations across the country to check criminality.
According to Buratai, the army is involved in operations to deal with crimes because it is better trained, equipped and has better intelligence.
The army chief was in Lagos to inaugurate projects in some military formations in the state.
Earlier, while inaugurating the complex, Buratai said that since he assumed duty over a year ago, he had embarked on “massive reconstruction and renovation” of both living and office accommodation for personnel across army formations nationwide.
He charged officers and soldiers to discharge their duties professionally and responsibly and be loyal to constituted authority.
The COAS inaugurated the renovated headquarters of the Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Bonny Cantonment, as well as the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information Studio ICT Centre, all in Victoria Island, Lagos.
He also inspected the Nigerian Army Ordnance Tailoring Factory, Yaba which sews uniforms for army personnel.
Buratai also paid a visit to the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, where he held closed door meeting with the management of the hospital.
