CHADIANS, NIGERIENS INVOLVED IN BAGA OPERATION - ARMY

NIGERIEN  and Chadian officials have confirmed the involvement of forces from their countries in a gun battle at Nigeria’s border town, Baga in Maiduguri, Borno State, where 187 people were said to have been killed. 

Nigerian defence spokesman, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade speaking on the incident that “the force that hit them (Boko Haram) was a multinational force” involving Chadian and Nigerien troops who have been cooperating on the border for about a decade.

Confirming the involvement of forces from Niger and Chad to Reuters on Tuesday, officials at the neighbouring countries, said they were surprised by the firepower they faced at the scene of the attack.

Apart from Olukolade, two Nigerian military sources were also quoted to have said that a joint force of more than 100 was assembled after intelligence reports said that Boko Haram militants had moved into Baga, a fishing town in northeast Nigeria on the shores of Lake Chad.

The sources said “the militants, armed with machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades and homemade bombs, put up fierce resistance from positions around local people and their homes.”

Several Boko Haram fighters were killed and weapons were seized, but civilians also died in a fight the sources said was neither a significant strategic victory nor an escalation.

There was still no confirmation of the death toll from Friday’s fighting, but a Nigerian military source said dozens may have died, many of them civilians.

The Nigerian Red Cross said they checked reports from locals that 187 people had been killed, but had not yet gained security clearance to go into Baga.

Meanwhile, rescue workers were said to be struggling to reach the remote Baga town where the military had restricted access after the governor had ordered a massive relief effort.

Baga residents have accused the military of firing indiscriminately on civilians and setting fire to much of the fishing town.

Red Cross national coordinator, Umar Mariaga told AFP that his staff members were still struggling to reach Baga, where the security situation remains uncertain.

“We are making efforts to get clearance from the security agents to get in and assist the victims of the violence,” he said.

Report said much of the town remains deserted after the Friday fighting which forced thousands of people to flee, a resident told AFP.

“Baga is still under military siege. The town is at a standstill with little food and water, which has forced even those of us that stayed behind to start leaving,” he told AFP. 

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has said in a statement that he was “shocked and saddened at the reports of high numbers of civilians killed.”

The United States had also condemned the violence and the deaths of many civilians.

According to AFP, details of the alleged military atrocities in Baga are still emerging, but it could mark a major setback in Nigeria’s effort to end the insurgency.

“Baga’s location near Chad and Niger is problematic for Nigeria’s security forces as people from all three countries move freely through porous borders,” an expert on religious violence in Nigeria, Shehu Sani told AFP.

The Commander Multi National Joint Task Force, Brigadier General Austin Edokpaye has given an update on the encounter of the Task Force with Boko Haram.

According to the Commander, “Multi National Joint Task Force troops on routine patrol at Baga – Mallam Garati Road had an encounter with Boko Haram Terrorists at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, 16 April, 2013.

He said that during the encounter, one soldier was killed and 5 other soldiers were injured. While 30 Boko Haram terrorists lost their lives, five were arrested and many escaped with bullet wounds but unfortunately, six civilians lost their lives and 10 other civilians were injured in the crossfire.

The Commander disclosed that the following items were recovered;
Three Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers, two Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, Four AK 47 Rifles, four hundred and thirty Five Assorted Ammunition, Several quantities of IED Materials and Three Land Cruiser Vehicles of the Terrorists were damaged.

He said that contrary to media speculation that hundreds of houses were burnt, instead, it was the explosion from Boko Haram Trocket propelled grenade bombs, Anti-Aircraft guns and sophisticated IED materials that triggered fire to about 30 thatched houses in the predominantly fishing community”.

On the allegation that the military were not allowing aid workers into the area to salvage the remaining situation, the Defence Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said it was not true.

The Senate has mandated its committees on Defence, Police and National Intelligence to immediately commence investigation into the killing of about 190 people in Baga, Borno State, last Friday.

The joint committees were expected to report its findings back to the Senate in 14 days.

  The move followed a point of order raised on the floor of the Senate by Senator Ma’ji Lawan (Borno North). Lawan who described the massacre as outrageous, condemnable and unacceptable in a civilised society that was not in a state of war.

Contrary to media report, he said the attack was not perpetrated by members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) but rather by JMTF, a group of military men on patrol of the borders of four countries namely, Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroun.

He said members of the insurgent provoked the massacre by shooting one  of the JMTF members who he said had all the while been peaceful in their patrol of the area until the unfortunate incident of last Friday.

Noting that he was sufficiently informed of the details of what happened by his constituents, Senator Lawan said the insurgents started the trouble by firing at one of the soldiers.

He said the soldiers went for reinforcement and came back to level half Baga community, killing between 180 and 200 people and destroying 2000 homes, 62 cars, 284 motorcycles and tons of food stuff.

Lawan, who hails from the affected community, described the scene as pathetic as the community played host to people from various tribal backgrounds who were engaged in varieties of thriving economic activities.

He said the military had taken over 10 local goverment areas in the wake of the violence, adding that the military downplayed the casuality figure and that several people had been dislocated and the number of the casualities were increasing.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday also called on the Federal Government to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to the reported death of 185 people and a soldier in Baga Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The House resolution was sequel to a matter of urgent national importance raised by Honourable Mohammed Mongunu who regretted that the action of the soldiers has dented the image of the military that was trying to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians.

It will be recalled that 185 persons and a soldier were reportedly killed with over 200 houses burnt in a conflict between insurgents of Boko-Haram sect and soldiers of the multinational joint task force in Baga Kukawa local government area of Bornu state.

The House equally resolved to set up a special committee to visit Baga and commiserate with the families of the soldier and innocent civilians who lost their lives.

It then called on the National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA, to provide relief materials to the  affected victims.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has also strongly condemned the reported killing of 185 people, mostly women and children, in the town of Baga.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also warned the JTF against engaging in extra-judicial killings, saying the security agencies must respect the relevant rules of engagement in their ongoing onslaught against the sect in order to spare the lives and property of innocent civilians.

“Without jumping to any conclusion on what really transpired in Baga, we hasten to say that the military, in fighting an asymmetric war against insurgents, must ensure a strict observance of its rules of engagement to avoid the kind of deaths that were recorded in the border town.

“No matter what defence the military may put forward, the mass deaths and destruction in Baga during the JTF-insurgents’ clash portray the Nigerian military as having little or no respect for human rights and the sanctity of lives. This is not a flattering portrayal for a military that has made its mark in global peacekeeping,’’ it said.

The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the reported death of many persons in Baga and called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to guarantee the security and safety of all persons living in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Communications Department of the Commission Muhammad Ladan and made available to Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.

The statement reads in part: “News reports from various sources indicated intense gun battle between an armed group and Joint Military Task Force leading to the death of unspecified number of persons including some of the combatants and other innocent citizens, in Baga.

“The Commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe called for a quick and diligent investigation that will lead to an open and transparent trial of persons behind this avoidable loss of lives and property.

“Prof. Angwe said this is an unfortunate development which must not be allowed to draw back the efforts being made towards restoring peace in the region.  He appealed to all aggrieved persons to eschew violence and embrace dialogue which he said is globally recognized as an avenue for addressing all grievances.

A former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has also condemned the killing.

Kalu said that despite the claim by the Defence Headquarters that it was yet to get the civilian casualty figure, it had become obvious from reports from the Red Cross, the media and the villagers in Baga that the death toll was high.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser, Oyekunle Oyewumi, Kalu said the Joint Task Force should be held liable for such high civilian casualty rate in a village of a few thousand people.

He said: “If indeed the officers and men of the JTF had played by their rules of engagement, there should not have been such high number of deaths in a small village such as Baga.

“I wonder who was the military commander that gave the order for civilians to be shot at even if suspected terrorists were using them as human shield.

“This is sheer mindlessness.”

Kalu also called for the review of the operations of the JTF.

Senator Bukola Saraki, has expressed sadness at the killing, on Friday, at the border town of Baga in Borno State, saying there must be a full investigation into the gruesome murder in order to bring the perpetrators to book.

About 185 people were left dead, 2000 houses burnt and other valuable properties destroyed as a result of gun battle between members of the Boko-Haram sect and the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Senator Saraki, in a statement issued on Tuesday, condemned the killing and demanded a full inquest on the activities of the JTF to account for the series of event that eventually led to the loss of innocent lives within the community.

“It is more disheartening to see women and young children of different ages lose their lives untimely. This is one attack too many that has continued to undermine our genuine effort towards restoring peace to the crisis ridden areas.

“Those who have made it a perpetual habit to inflict pain and agony on innocent citizens by their wicked ways must be quickly identified and brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.

“We are currently passing through a difficult period as a nation resolute to defend her democracy, I urge the people of Baga community to desist from carrying out a reprisal attack on the JTF.

“They should rather provide valuable information that could lead to the arrest of the troublemakers in order to prevent a reoccurrence of such dastardly act,” he said.

Senator Saraki appealed to the JTF and other security outfits to be more professional in handling security challenges.

“I also, urge politicians and religious leaders to intensify their effort in meeting the yearnings of the people to further enhance the peace and stability and wellbeing of the nation.

“As law abiding citizens, we must continue to be observant and report any suspicious movements and activities within our community to assist the security agencies in combating this menace threatening our existence,” he said.

Source: Tribune