Key points
- About 104 soldiers from the 162 Battalion have been missing since a June 5 attack.
- Boko Haram overran the Mandara-Buratai Road base, killing at least eight troops.
- The Army has declared the missing soldiers deserters and frozen their accounts.
About 104 Nigerian soldiers have gone missing for more than three weeks after Boko Haram terrorists attacked their base in Borno State. According to SaharaReporters, the troops belonged to the 162 Battalion along the Mandara-Buratai Road.
The terrorists overran parts of the position on June 5. Notably, they struck at 4 a.m. during heavy rain and caught the troops off guard.
The assault killed at least eight soldiers, including a Major, while several others suffered injuries. Furthermore, a source said the attackers stormed the camp in large numbers.
“They attacked us at 4 a.m. on Friday, when it was raining,” the source said. As a result, the troops had little warning before the gunmen closed in.
The Mandara-Buratai axis lies in a Boko Haram stronghold in northeastern Borno. Frequently, the terrorists target isolated army positions in the area.
A toll still unclear
More than three weeks later, the fate of 104 personnel remains unknown. According to one source, the Army cannot confirm whether the men died or fled.
“We cannot say whether they are dead or ran away,” the source said. Therefore, the uncertainty has deepened fears among relatives and fellow troops.
Indeed, the source accused the military of hiding the scale of the loss. Consequently, families of the missing have struggled to learn what happened.
The discrepancy between the official silence and the source accounts has fueled suspicion. In addition, observers say transparency could ease the families’ anguish.
Officials have not issued any statement on the attack. Still, graphic footage from the scene has circulated, underscoring the severity of the raid.
Army brands the missing deserters
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has declared the affected soldiers wanted for desertion. According to a military signal obtained by SaharaReporters, the men absconded with their personal weapons.
The signal warned that the soldiers would face dire consequences if found. Moreover, sources said the Army froze the bank accounts of the listed personnel.
According to the signal, the soldier “and 103 others absconded from their place of deployment” on June 5 after the attack. Additionally, it listed the men in an annex and ordered their arrest.
Lieutenant Ndubuisi signed the document, which declared the men deserters from that date. Subsequently, various army formations received orders to apprehend any of the soldiers on sight.
Ultimately, the case highlights the heavy pressure on troops fighting Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. However, the Army has yet to explain the missing soldiers publicly.