Nigerian Army had information about recent Borno attack, refused to act fast

Nigerian Army had information about recent Borno attack, refused to act fast – DSS, others reveal

The State Security Service, the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Nigeria Police, as well as the Civilian-JTF have individually indicted the Nigerian military over the recent attack on Magumeri village in Borno state by the Boko Haram insurgent group.

Nigerian Army had information on impending attack on Borno village - DSS, others

Governor Shettima reportedly expressed displeasure over the comment credited SK Usman

It was learnt that some soldiers and two policemen were killed in the attack.

Daily Trust reports that in separate testimonies, the different security bodies confirmed that the military got adequate information but did less to avert the attack.

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At a stakeholders meeting convened by Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, to investigate the allegation by the Nigerian Army that residents of Magumeri connived with insurgents to attack troops, Shettima reportedly said he was not happy with the comments credited to the spokesperson of the Army, Sani Usman, that the military obtained credible intelligence suggesting that the attack was made possible because residents cooperated with Boko Haram terrorists.

The governor had stormed the meeting in anger accusing the leaders of the village of conniving with the insurgents to injure

the cooperation between civilians and the military.

He was however surprised when testimonies from the security agencies and the civilian JTF revealed that the military had adequate information about the impending attack.

The report quoted an elder in the community as saying the Nigerian military was not fair in accusing residents of connivance with the Boko Haram.

The elder said the sect had not attacked Magumeri in recent times because he and other residents had assisted the security operatives with information.

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Reacting to the development however, Brigadier-General Sani Usman, was reported as saying the Army stands by the facts available to it.

“Our position on Magumeri is not an indictment on the whole society but those who have been conniving with terrorists know themselves,” he added.