The Audacity of Nonsense: Nigerians Blast Presidency as Boko Haram Slaughters 100 Nigerian Soldiers in Single Attack

The Audacity of Nonsense! @Omojuwa called it, joining other Nigerians in expressing anger, despair, sadness and fear for the future of the country on social media over the slaughter of troops by Boko Haram in the North-east over the weekend.

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Days ago HeraldNG reported two attacks by a Boko Haram off-shoot, the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) during the weekend in which 44 Nigerian soldiers died.

New details have however emerged regarding the incident which happened at Metele, a Nigerian Military base over the weekend.

Reuters broke the news that more than 100 Nigerian Soldiers were slaughtered by the militants alone in the Metele Attack while 96 others died in other attacks.

This makes it the second single highest casualty sustained by the Nigerian Military since Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Military General came to power.

Earlier on July 14, 2018 Nigerian Army casualties in an attack by ISWAP fighters at the Nigerian FOB at Kiki had been 200 killed in action in one fell swoop.

In that attack, the militants had carted away five tanks, as well as several Guntrucks and other military equipment.

According to five military sources who pleaded anonymity because they were not allowed to speak on the matter, about 100 soldiers were killed and many more were unaccounted for some of whom are believed to have been captured by ISWAP.

One survivor said;

“The insurgents took us unawares, the base was burned with arms and we lost about 100 soldiers, it’s a huge loss”.

The sources confirmed further that the Nigeria army lost 50 more troops the next day when reinforcements scrambled to the base were ambushed.

“We all flew because we didn’t know where the bullets were coming from. They killed some of us who went to evacuate the bodies of the dead soldiers.

We left our armour, tanks and weapons. They were all there, the village is still under their control.” Another soldier said

Boko haram attacks have become more ferocious and deadly costing the lives of men and materiel of the Nigerian Military three years after the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari claimed to have defeated the militant group. ,

The Presidency had repeatedly denied reports of a resurgence of the group saying the attacks were the kicks of a dying Horse.

While contesting for the Presidency in 2015, Buhari promised to lead from the frontline and end the insurgency within six months of his Presidency.

The President is seeking a second term in Office in the February 2019, Presidential elections.

 

Nigerians React

As the news broke on social media, anger filled the air as the twitter handles of the Nigeria Army, The Presidency, Muhammadu Buhari, Yemi Osinbajo and other Government supporters were criticizing the opposition and showing political delegates of the APC on a visit to Aso Rock.

Nigerians wondered why the President who is himself an ex-general would show no empathy for Nigerian soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the Nation.

Activists and Presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili wondered why the nation was not mourning and flags were not at half masts all over the nation in honour of the fallen heroes.

Others faulted the claim of the Nigerian President that Boko haram had been defeated, saying even a dying elephant cannot kill 100 Nigerian soldiers.

Nigerians also accused the conventional media within the country of carrying out a media blackout on Boko haram related activities in the North-east.

Allegations have been rife on social media that the Military under-reports casualties of troops in the North-east, often conducting mass burials in secret.

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Nigerians expressed anger at news outlets like AIT, Punch Newspapers and Channels Television for refusing to report on the true situation of things in the North-east, rather than let the Government get away with the lie that all was well.

Many Nigerians said they felt disappointed that important news was being reported by foreign media than local Nigerian news outlets.