Updated: Nigerian Army denies 101 soldiers ran away from Boko Haram fight
- The Nigerian Army has denied that a significant number of soldiers deserted the Boko Haram war front
- According to the Army, claims that the troops absconded after a deadly attack is false
- Members of the general public have been advised to disregard the report
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The Nigerian Army has denied a recent report alleging that a total of 12 officers and 89 soldiers were declared wanted for running away from the anti-Boko Haram fight in Borno state.
Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, director army public relations stated that the claim soldiers absconded from duty after Boko Haram attacks on their camps is false.
Yerima made this known on Thursday, March 4, in a statement he signed and was shared on the army's official Facebook page.
He noted that the report was targeted at dampening the morale and fighting efficiency of the troops.
The army spokesman urged members of the general public to disregard the publication, saying the troops are in high spirit and clearing areas infiltrated by Boko Haram terrorists/ISWAP.
Premium Times had reported that the Nigerian Army had declared the soldiers wanted for running away and also froze their bank accounts.
It was gathered that the soldiers absconded from duty after the Boko Haram attacks on their camps in Marte and Dikwa local government areas of Borno state allegedly left many of their colleagues dead.
Source: Facebook
The soldiers, attached to the 15 Task Force Battalion, were reportedly ambushed and dislodged after hours of intense fighting.
They later tactically retreated and relocated to Dikwa which was attacked again.
Daily Trust also reported that a signal dated March 1, 2021, from Operation Lafiya Dole Headquarters in Maiduguri, showed that the soldiers were declared deserters.
The newspaper cited a military source as saying that the case of the soldiers that deserted was a source of concern.
Below is the full list of the officers and soldiers who deserted the army, according to Premium Times:
- GY Mohammed
- EP Nwangwu
- US Muhammad
- EG Utok
- A Ibrahim
- US Ibrahim
- ME Ochei
- EN Essien
- FC Maduako
- KO Adejare
- S Mammada
- YJ Ishaya
- Muazu Yusuf
- Musa Usman
- Idris Garba
- Chigbo John
- Aminu Mohammed
- Godfrey Samuel
- Christopher Silas
- Okoro Emeka
- Meze Hillary
- Zakka Peter
- Onyebuchi Kennedy
- Okunola Oluwasegun
- Suoyefe Abiola
- Mwankat Shalmak
- Ekekien Peter
- Daniel Emmanuel
- John Monday
- Yakubu Amos
- Aminu Saidu
- Pius Okoro
- Kenebra Shedrach
- Dominic Eworo
- Ojo Oluwasegun
- Nura Lawal
- Yakubu Suleiman
- Johnson Chorus
- Isah Shaibu
- Nasiru Hamisu
- Jibrin Sa’adu
- John Ukpenkune
- Umar Sani
- Mustapha Suleiman
- Isiaq Adam
- Muhammed Ahmed
- John Richard
- Kabiru Hashimu
- Awuna Monday
- Isah John
- Zamani Fidelis
- Abubakar Adam
- Philip Chia
- Ogundipe GBenga
- Samson Unite
- Francis Audu
- Abubakar Musa
- Ibrahim Adamu
- Sadiq Abubakar
- Lawal Abdullahi
- Ajala David
- Suleiman Jamilu
- Okoro Ama
- Sunday Sule
- Aimato Abdulsalam
- Abubakar Musa
- Suleiman Kabiru
- Onu Kingsley
- Buba Usman
- James John
- Hussaini Adamu
- Shamsudeen Ismail
- Saidu Sani
- Abdullahi Musa
- Abubakar Yahaya
- Edosa Aigboje
- Ibrahim Umar
- Chukwujekwu Okenwa
- Abdullahi Usman
- Ukali Emmanuel
- Joseph Benard
- Ewubare Gold
- Abimiku Sunday
- Ibrahim Mansur
- Joseph Ayuba
- Ayanyemi Tayo
- Remember Jeremiah
- Jimoh Adesina
- Ukwokori Precious
- Ayawei Ayibatemi
- Kalu Sunday
- Abdulkadir Ahmed
- Osakwe Festus N
- Badamashi Omokafe
- Levi Pwagureno
- Paul Pilate Saddam
- Bello Musa
- Moses Ayo
- Ademu Alih
- Ogobi Fredrick
- Benedict Uduebor
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In a similar development, the House of Representatives has confirmed media reports that there has been mass resignation of soldiers in the Nigerian Army.
A total of 356 troops of the Nigerian Army were reported to have resigned from the service in July 2020, but military authorities had denied it.
However, findings of the House committee on the army made public on Tuesday, March 2 indicate that the reports were authentic.
Meanwhile, Nigerian troops have successfully recovered Marte town from the Boko Haram terrorists.
An anonymous military source stated that the troops successfully and safely detonated series of IEDs laced along the routes and finally dominated the general area.
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