Having received preliminary briefings from the Military High Command on the incident, President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday ordered full-scale investigations into reports of high civilian casualties in the confrontation between Nigerian soldiers and insurgents at Baga, Borno State at the weekend.
Indicating that the casualty figures may have been exaggerated by foreign media, Jonathan assured Nigerians and the global community of government premium on the lives of all citizens of the country. He promised that his administration would continue to do everything possible to avoid killings of innocent bystanders in security operations against terrorists and insurgents.
“Rules of engagement for the Military and security agencies are already in place for this purpose and the investigation ordered by President Jonathan into the incident in Baga is to amongst other things, determine whether or not these rules were fully complied with,” a statement signed by Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati assured.
“The president has also ordered the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Federal health agencies to liaise with the Borno State Government and take urgent steps to provide immediate relief and medical support for all who suffered losses and injury in the fighting at Baga. He commiserates with all those who have regrettably lost their lives in the fighting, including the soldiers who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice in the operation against terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria.”
Earlier on Monday, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that 25 members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect who attacked the commercial border town of Baga in Borno State were killed by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in a gun duel.
Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Chris Olukolade made this clarification in Abuja, saying the Joint Task Force lost a soldier in the attack. He explained that Boko Haram insurgents razed some houses, and there was a distress call to which the Military immediately responded.
“The only casualties as at now are just 25 insurgents and a soldier. Actually it was a soldier who was in the team to rescue the villagers.”
However, Olukolade said he was in no position to give purely authoritative figures on civilian casualty but promised that the public would be duly informed of any further development in Baga town.
Meanwhile, a footnote on Aljazeera television also on Monday contrarily revealed that 185 people died in the attack and that at least 2000 houses, 64 motorcycles and 40 cars were burnt.
In a related development, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim led service Chiefs and members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Defence to receive the United States House Armed Service Committee Congressional delegation at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation led by Rep. Mac Thornberry, Admiral Ibrahim described America as a friend, saying the visit would enable the delegation appraise the efforts the country towards resolving its security challenges.
“Nigeria appreciates the support the United States in the Niger Delta particularly in the acquisition of the US Coast guard war ship, which has been renamed The Thunder among the Nigerian Navy fleet,” he said.
He commended the United States for its visibility in Mali, adding that delegates would be fully briefed after seeing clips of efforts and plans to tackle the acts of insurgencies in the country.
After about an hour of closed-door meeting, Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Sekibo told the journalists that the delegates praised government’s efforts but demanded increased efforts to end terrorism in the country.
