The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief
Marshall, Alex Badeh, on Tuesday confirmed that Niger Republic and the Republic
of Chad had withdrawn their troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force base
following increase in the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
The countries’ decision to withdraw their
troops followed the attack carried out by members of the sect on the MJTF base
located just outside Baga town in Borno State last Saturday.
The base was being manned by troops from
Nigeria, Niger and Chad to interdict criminal activities in the Lake Chad area.
It was expanded in 2014 to curtail the activities of members of the sect in the
area where the borders of the three countries intersect.
Speaking with State House correspondents at
the end of an expanded emergency security meeting at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, Badeh said the two countries had not contributed troops to Baga thus
leaving only Nigerian troops at the base.
He said, “No, they (Niger and Chad) have not
pulled out of the multinational force because we have held several meetings.
They are still part of the multinational force.
“What has been happening is that they have
not contributed people to the point of Baga. Chad had people on their own side
but I believe they have withdrawn.
“Niger had people with us. They too withdrew
and left Nigerians only at the Multinational Joint Task Force Headquarters.”
Badeh said although he wished the border
could be closed, it could be difficult doing so.
“I wish it (the border) could be closed, but
how do you close such a very large border? And it is not the military duty to
close border anyway,” he said.
The security chief also confirmed that there
was an attack on the military base in Baga but insisted that the military was
at work to reclaim the town.
Although he boasted that the town would be
reclaimed, Badeh refrained from giving a time frame.
When asked what Nigerians should expect in
terms of security in the New Year, Badeh said, “It will improve by God’s grace
and we are working.”
Meanwhile, the military High Command in Abuja
has decided to probe the Boko Haram’s attack on Baga on Saturday.
Investigations revealed that the military leadership
was not satisfied with the level of resistance put up by the troops on the day
of the attack.
Although, the MNJTF comprises soldiers from
Nigeria, Niger, and Chad, the bulk of the soldiers and equipment come from
Nigeria, which also produces the commander and the operational headquarters of
the force.
Although, Cameroon is supposed to be part of
the countries contributing to the MNJTF, Cameroonian soldiers have not been
part of the Task Force.
It was learnt that the military leadership in
Abuja was embittered by the fact that the base came under heavy and sustained
attacks from the insurgents 48 hours after sophisticated weapons were supplied
to the base.
It is the contention in military circles that
the Baga attack shows in clear terms that weapons and equipment are not the
main issues in the operation.
It was further learnt that the attack on the
base barely two days after the supply of weapons to the base had fuelled
suspicions in high military circles that there could be insiders’ collaboration
and sabotage in the attack.
Military chiefs were said to be meeting on
the issues thrown up by the Baga attack as of the time of filing this story.
When our correspondent contacted the
Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, on the issue, he
confirmed the probe, saying that the military was interested in finding out
areas where lapses occurred so that they could be addressed.
He said that the operation against the
insurgency was on as the military would not relent in the ongoing counter-terrorism
campaign.
Olukolade said, “We are interested in
checking out areas where there are lapses so that they could be corrected.
Culled: Punch
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