As gathered by GhanaTalksRadio, the Nigerian Army has declared 101 military officials missing after Boko Haram descended on Marte and Dikwa local government areas of Borno State.
On Monday, March 1, 2021, a signal, signed by Col. A.O. Odubiyi, on behalf of the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiyain Maiduguri, indicated that the soldiers were declared deserters.
It further stated that after the attacks on Marte and Dikwa, 3 majors, 3 captains, 6 lieutenants, 3 sergeants and 89 soldiers had fled the barracks.
It read, “I am directed to connect Reference A on the above subject and to respectfully forward details of additional officers and soldiers who absconded from the defensive location during the BHT attack on New Marte and Dikwa.
“You are requested to declare the named officers and soldiers’ deserters WEF February 19 21. You are also requested to cause HQ NAFC to freeze their accounts and apprehend/bring them under military escort to this Headquarters if seen within your AOR.”
The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima told reporters that, “If Army has anything to tell the world, shall we wait for the media to prompt us? No! Well, if we have anything to tell the world on that, we will tell the world, we won’t allow you to prompt us.”
In confirmation of the unfortunate events, a military source said: “The fact is that the weapons procured by the federal government between 2013 and 2014 have all worn out while the terrorists have stolen others during raids on military bases.
“Also, the terrorists have procured additional weapons from other sources, which they are now using to take the war to the doorsteps of our troops.
“The terrorists also believe that they are fighting a religious battle and therefore are ready to fight all the time, confronting the troops with the conviction that they would either win or die. All these factors have collectively dampened the morale of our troops and the federal government must do something to revive it,” he said.
