Nigerian army confirms 30 Boko Haram insurgents killed

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the death of 30 Boko Haram insurgents in an encounter with a multi-national Joint Task Force (JTF) in Baga, Borno state, without letting out information on the ordinary civilian casualties caught in the cross fire.

The task Force included Nigerian, Nigerien and Chadian soldiers and is meant to police the Lake Chad zone.

This confirmation is contained in a statement signed by Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement confirmed that one soldier was killed and 5 others injured, while five insurgents were arrested and many others escaped with bullet wounds.

The statement however threw up further puzzles as it said the bloody encounter with Boko Haram insurgents took place on Tuesday 16 April, while earlier reports said the killings took place on Friday 19 April.

The statement said that Gen. Austin Edokpaye, who is in-charge of the multi-national Joint Task Force in Borno, gave the update on the encounter with the Boko Haram.

” The Commander Multi National Joint Task Force, Brigadier General Austin Edokpaye has given an update on the encounter of the Task Force with Boko Haram recently resulting in some casualties being reported in the media today. His report:

“Multi National Joint Task Force troops on routine patrol at Baga – Mallam Garati Road had an encounter with Boko Haram Terrorists at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, 16 April, 2013. During the encounter, one soldier was killed and 5 other soldiers were injured. While 30 Boko Haram Terrorists lost their lives, 5 were arrested and many escaped with bullet wounds. Unfortunately, 6 civilians lost their lives and 10 other civilians were injured in the crossfire.

The following items were recovered;

a. Three Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers.
b. Two Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs.
c. Four AK 47 Rifles.
d. Four Hundred and Thirty Five Assorted Ammunition.
e. Several quantities of IED Materials.
f. Three Land Cruiser Vehicles of the Terrorists were damaged.

Contrary to media speculation that hundreds of houses were burnt, instead, it was the explosion from Boko Haram Terrorist Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, Anti-Aircraft Guns and sophisticated IED materials that triggered fire to about 30 thatched houses in the predominantly fishing community”.

The army statement was however silent on the civilian casualties, said to have been caught in the cross-fires.

The Red Cross estimated the death toll at 187 and Governor of the state, Kashim Shettima has described the killings as ‘barbaric’.

President Jonathan has meanwhile ordered a probe into the killings, amidst condemnations by the US government and the United Nations.