Military fails to locate missing soldiers, gun trucks abducted by Boko Haram

Burial ceremony of soldiers killed by Boko Haram

According to reliable military sources, some troops of the Nigerian Army, who went missing in action, following the Boko Haram terrorists’ attacks on a military base in Jilli, Yobe State, and Bama, Borno State are yet to be found.

Sunday PUNCH learnt that the army bases in both locations were making frantic efforts to locate the displaced soldiers as well as recover at least three military gun trucks which were still missing.

The number of soldiers still missing as of Saturday was uncertain as the army authorities had kept mum on the development.

The army base in Jilli was reportedly attacked last week by the Boko Haram insurgents, when at least 20 soldiers were said to have died and about 20 others injured.

PUNCH learnt that the loss in both army locations was so huge that it forced the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and other top commanders from the army headquarters, Abuja, to visit the North-East and assess the situation on the ground.

The army chief thereafter promised the 21 Brigade in Bama “adequate logistics support” to aid their operations.”

However, there was still tension in Jilli and Bama over soldiers who had yet to be found, either dead or alive.

Multiple sources confirmed that the gun trucks and other ammunition, carted away by the insurgents, had also yet to be recovered.