The army starts a manhunt for the murderers of soldiers

The military high command said on Sunday that marauding terrorists, who recently killed some of their personnel in Niger state, would be “forcibly hunted down by fire”.

Director of Defense Media Operations, Edward Buba, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent in response to a publication in Sunday edition of Daily Trust, specifically said that there would be “harmful consequences” for the act.

Daily Trust had reported how bandits on Friday evening ambushed and shot six soldiers in Roro, Karaga and Rumace communities, Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of ​​Niger State.

A captain was also reportedly kidnapped during the incident.

This came barely a month after 17 soldiers, deployed on a peacekeeping mission to quell inter-communal clashes, were killed in Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of ​​Delta State.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Buba, a major general, said: “Unfortunately, troops are once again making the ultimate sacrifice to secure the nation and its citizens. However, there would be damaging consequences for those guilty of killing troops. We would hunt them down and hold them accountable for their actions against the troops.”

In the same vein, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, described the development as a temporary setback, disclosing that other troops launched offensive attacks against the terrorists after incidents and neutralized scores of them.

“Troops of the Nigerian Army of the 1st Division deployed at Allawa and Erena while on a combat patrol to Karaga Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of ​​Niger State on April 19, 2024, they encountered an ambush staged by terrorists.

“Troops bravely fought through the ambush and neutralized several terrorists and seized some of their equipment,” Nwachukwu, also a major general, said in a statement issued on Sunday.

The senior military officer, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General. While sympathizing with the family of the deceased, Taoreed Lagbaja explained that the troops killed consisted of two officers and four soldiers.

According to him, Major General Landers Saraso, on behalf of the Chief of Staff, sympathized with the families of the deceased personnel and promised them that the unfortunate setback will be avenged by the troops.

“He said the troops are currently tracking some of the terrorists who survived and fled after the encounter. He urged the good people of the state to continue with their legitimate and lawful activities, assuring them that the Nigerian Army and other security agencies will ensure their protection at all times.

“In line with customs and traditions, the Nigerian Army Authority has contacted the next of kin of the fallen heroes, while the burial of the deceased Muslim personnel took place with the consent and approval of their family members.

“The Chief of Army Staff was represented at the funeral which took place at the Minna Military Cantonment Cemetery by the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Major General Kelvin Aligbe.

“The Deputy Governor, COAS representative, GOC and other senior officers also visited the 2 injured soldiers who were receiving medical attention at the Military Hospital and subsequently paid a condolence visit to the families of the deceased.

“We urge the general public, especially the good people of Niger and neighboring states, to continue to provide the Nigerian Army and other security agencies with actionable and timely information to improve the operations of the troops.”