Convoy Attack: Military Concludes Investigation, Cautions Zulum Against ‘Unverified’ Claims

The Nigerian Military has cautioned Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, against making public remarks about what it described as unverified allegations against its personnel in the theatre of operations.

This formed part of the recommendations of an investigative team set up to verify the allegations that soldiers in the war front have been engaging in farming and fishing activities.

The team lead, Major General Felix Omoigui, who is also the Deputy Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, briefed reporters on the findings of the team on Friday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He revealed that the allegations emanated from personnel of some security agencies, which were neither investigated nor verified before reporting same to the governor.

Omoigui who described the allegations as false and malicious explained that when the team visited Baga town, there were no records of fishing or farming by the troops as alleged.

“The prohibition of troops from engaging in farming and fishing activities in Area of Responsibility is contained in the Standing Operative Procedures,” he stated.

The deputy theatre commander insisted that soldiers have been constantly warned not to get involved in any farming and fishing activities.

He stressed that the investigative team also found that the entire area of Baga was too heavily mined with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to encourage any farming activity, adding that 55 mines have so far been detonated since the town was reclaimed.

“The allegations were conjured by some overzealous security agencies who for personal glory and without recourse for the tenets of inter-agency cooperation decided to propagate falsehood.

“The Governor of Borno State believed these allegations levelled against troops of the 19 Brigade in Baga given his recent utterances,” Omoigui said.

He added, “Remarks of highly placed persons is capable of demoralising the troops which would negatively impact on operations and the confidence of the locals in the military.
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