BREAKING: Nigerian Army plans 'secret' burial for soldiers killed in Borno

Photo of the burial of soldiers previously killed by Boko Haram in Borno.

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army 157 Task Force Battalion reported to have been killed during Boko Haram attack in Metele, Borno state would be buried privately on Friday, December 14, The Punch reports.

A widow of one of the officers killed said the funeral organised by the Nigerian Army would take place in Maiduguri today.

Sources said the Nigerian Army planned a 'private' burial for the fallen heroes to prevent the public from knowing the exact number of soldiers killed in the attack where over 100 were reported to have been killed.

A widow who spoke to the Newspaper on condition of anonymity said she was invited for her husbands burial alongside other widows.

According to her, the number of soldiers killed in Metele attack on November 18, is yet to made available to them.

"I was invited for the burial of my husband with a few others this Friday in Maiduguri.

“Sincerely, we don’t even know how many will be buried and the army is not giving us any information," the widow said.

Also speaking on the matter, a colonel who did not want his name mentioned because he is not authorised to speak said the Army decided to make the burial private in order to hide the true casualty figure.

“General Buratai said only 23 soldiers were killed in the attack. He also put the number of troops wounded in action at 31. However, we all know that is not true. Over 100 were killed and a private burial is now being organised in order not to expose their lies," the colonel said.

It was gathered that Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Sakaba had died alongside over 100 soldiers on November 18, 2018.

Also, his younger brother, Lt. Yakubu Sakaba, was killed by Boko Haram on October 5, 2014.