Strong
indications have emerged that Islamic militants from some North African
countries are coordinating attacks against the Nigerian military in the
North Eastern part of the country.
A military source told one of our
correspondents in Abuja that security operatives came to this
conclusion when they discovered that many Arabs of Shuwa descent and
fair-skinned people from Mauritania, Sudan, Somalia, Algeria and
Niger, were among those whose bodies were found after some of the
recent encounters with the militants.
The source said, “We strongly believe
that the foreign militants under the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb are
coordinating the attacks against our men in the troubled North Eastern
states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
“We have seen fairs-skinned corpses
and those of Arabs of Shuwa descent. We believe they are from countries
like Algeria, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan and Somalia. It is very possible
they are helping the Nigerian insurgents like those in Boko Haram in
coordinating attacks against our men.”
Our correspondent learnt that there
were strong feelings in the military that the militants who still have
several bases in the thick forests of the northern part of Borno
State, were among those chased out of Mali by the French and the
West African troops led by Nigeria.
The militants are said be be armed
with Rocket Propelled Grenades and General Purpose Machine Guns which
are more sophisticated than the AK 47 used by the Nigerian troops.
Another security source told our
correspondent that the RPG released to the Nigerian troops were obsolete
compared to those being wielded by the militants from North Africa
and their Boko Haram allies.
Findings indicated that the level of
preparedness and calibre of arms in possession of the militants were
responsible for ‘the high casualty on the Nigerian side.’
The Director of Army Public Relations,
Brig. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, had said during a press conference a week
ago that the Army lost 15 soldiers with nine others missing during the
attack by militants in the Kasiya Forest in Ngazai Local Government
Area of Borno State.
Last Sunday and Monday morning, the
insurgents launched another rounds of attacks on the Nigerian troops,
necessitating the deployment of more fighter jets in the troubled
states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
It was learnt that the fighter jets
immediately commenced monitoring the activities of the insurgents in
the three states which are under emergency rule.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Alex Badeh, is said to be personally supervising the use of fighter jets
and the Air Force personnel supporting the Army in the fight against
the insurgents.
It was also gathered that a major
offensive planned by the Army with aerial back up from the Air Force
resulted in the killing of a good number of the insurgents on Monday
night.
Our source couldn’t give the casualty figure in the latest attack.
The Director of Air Information, Air
Commodore Yusuf Anas, confirmed the deployment of Alpha jets as well as
M1, 35 and M1,34 helicopters in the operational areas.
Anas also confirmed that Badeh was in
Maiduguri to supervise the latest deployment and the personnel of the
Air Force assisting the the Army in the campaign against terrorism.
He said, “It is true; we have deployed
M1, 35 and M1,34 helicopters and Alpha jet aircraft. They are there to
support the Nigerian Army in curtailing the security situation in the
North-East.
“I cannot give you the exact number but
the figure is adequate to perform the role for which they were
deployed. I know that in the past nine months, we have always had NAF
helicopters there; they are engaged in patrol purposes, medical
services, medical evacuation and also offensive roles; that is, they
are also used for attacks.
“In addition to that, the Air Force has
deployed Alpha jets aircraft to participate in the operation. I can
also confirm that the Chief of Air staff was in Maiduguri to
monitor the deployment and supervise our personnel who are involved in
the operation.”
PUNCH
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