The Nigerian Army has declared 22 soldiers wanted for running from Boko Haram during an attack on September 29 at Gubio, a community in Borno State now partly controlled by insurgents.
Though eyewitnesses said 18 soldiers were killed during the attack on a military outpost in the community, the Nigerian army failed to confirm the attack or acknowledge the casualties recorded on its side.
Senior military officers who carried out an investigation to establish the level of resistance or damage from troops during the attack, found that 22 soldiers were unavailable. It is still not clear if the soldiers were missing in action or captured by Boko Haram, they were however declared as deserters and are bound to face dire consequences if found.
A list of soldiers declared wanted and obtained by Premium Times includes: U.A. Nagogo, a major; Mallam Turaki, a staff sergeant; Benjamin Afolabi, sergeant, Christian Nwachukwu, sergeant; Patrick Kosin, sergeant; Awuwa Orin, sergeant; Ibrahim Amodu, sergeant; Nasiru Umar, sergeant; Bello Suleiman, sergeant; Josiah Seth, sergeant and Muazu Nura, sergeant.
Ayodeji Ogunsuji, corporal; Michael Friday, corporal; Wakili Saul, corporal; Akyen Zamani, corporal; Yahaya Abubakar-Doia, lance corporal; Isikuru Venture, lance corporal; Aminu Isiaku, lance corporal; Usman Suleiman, lance corporal; Maigari Markus, lance corporal; Edward Ofem, lance corporal and Adams Shehu, lance corporal, were also declared wanted.
The feeling soldiers are to be arrested if found and returned in military escort to face disciplinary action. This follows up Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s warning of punishing soldiers that abandon positions during a Boko Haram attack.
Ex-president of Benin Republic accuses Saudi Arabia and Qatar of funding Boko Haram
Nicephore Soglo, former president of Benin Republic, has accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of funding Boko Haram.
The terrorist group has grown to constitute a threat to the Western African Region as well as the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is an affiliation of the Islamic State in the Middle-East, is a potent threat to the security of the region.
Soglo, who spoke at the constitutional term limits summit in Naimey, Niger Republic, said Africans must stand united to solve their own problems. He said Africa, and West Africa in particular, must work at solving it is own problems and that it should be able to identify its real friends.
“Boko Haram is funded by our friends from Saudi Arabia and our friends from Qatar. Are we friends or not? Let’s tell ourselves the truth. We have to stand together. I’m optimistic we are going to win if we stand together” he said.
The ongoing summit is organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Former President Goodluck Jonathan is one of the speakers.
