At Least 11 Nigerian Soldiers Killed By Boko Haram Since Emergency Declaration In Northeast
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2013/05/at-least-11-nigerian-soldiers-killed-by.html
The Nigerian military has offered an amnesty to Islamist militants who surrender and claim that Boko Haram are now 'in disarray'
Officials reported that claim 17 people had been killed on the fifth day of a military operation to try to crush the insurgency in the northeast.
In their biggest offensive since the insurgency began in 2009, Nigerian forces are trying to chase well-armed militants out of territory they control in remote semi-deserts around Lake Chad, along the borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
They are also pursuing Boko Haram in northeastern cities such as Maiduguri, Borno state, where the sect has cells. A heavy military presence patrolled Maiduguri on Sunday, with checkpoints choking what little traffic there was.
Nigeria's defence spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the operation was continuing on Sunday, with patrols sent out to secure towns and villages, and that special forces had killed 14 insurgents in battles that left three Nigerian soldiers dead and seven wounded.
However, other independent sources close to the military hierarchy claim that as many as 11 soldiers may have died since the state of emergency was declared by President Jonathan five days ago.
Only last month, Human Rights watch had accused the Nigerian Army of falsifying casualty figures as part of wide spread propaganda. The Army have however denied these allegations.
In their biggest offensive since the insurgency began in 2009, Nigerian forces are trying to chase well-armed militants out of territory they control in remote semi-deserts around Lake Chad, along the borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
They are also pursuing Boko Haram in northeastern cities such as Maiduguri, Borno state, where the sect has cells. A heavy military presence patrolled Maiduguri on Sunday, with checkpoints choking what little traffic there was.
Nigeria's defence spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the operation was continuing on Sunday, with patrols sent out to secure towns and villages, and that special forces had killed 14 insurgents in battles that left three Nigerian soldiers dead and seven wounded.
However, other independent sources close to the military hierarchy claim that as many as 11 soldiers may have died since the state of emergency was declared by President Jonathan five days ago.
Only last month, Human Rights watch had accused the Nigerian Army of falsifying casualty figures as part of wide spread propaganda. The Army have however denied these allegations.
