Sambisa on fire: Hundreds of terrorists killed, 20 soldiers missing

No fewer than an estimated 2,000 insurgents
were killed in a combined operation by
Special Forces and the men of the Air Force
on Friday and Saturday in the volatile Sambisa
Forest of Borno State, which has become a
prominent hideout of the violent Islamic sect,
Boko Haram.
What would have been a great victory for the
Special Forces was, however, marred by an
operational misunderstanding between the
ground troops and the officers in the Air
Force Alpha Jet.
Investigations revealed that 20 soldiers are
still missing as a result of the operational
misunderstanding.
It was learnt that mid-way into the operation,
the Air Force Alpha Jet radioed the ground
forces who had advanced in three companies,
that they should withdraw because it was
running out of bombs.
It was learnt that while the second and the
third battalions withdrew, the first company
of soldiers did not get the critical operational
order.
The situation was said to have put them at a
numerical disadvantage in the encounter with
the insurgents.
It was gathered that the soldiers fought their
way through in desperation until they got to
Bama Barracks.
Investigation revealed that a headcount
among the soldiers revealed that 20 of them
were missing.
The military would not declare a soldier dead
unless the corpse is recovered.
It was further learnt that the soldiers became
bitter because they felt they were not given
the operational information that could have
prevented the ugly occurrence.
Investigations further revealed that the angry
soldiers became unruly and refused to take
further orders from their superiors.
It was gathered that the soldiers, who came
from 103 Battalion, Okuname under 81 Div
Enugu, only take instructions from their
commanding officer.
It was learnt that the commanders are still in
the process of resolving the issue as of the
time of filing this story.
However, the Director of Defence
Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, said
the officers only went to their commanders to
narrate their operational experience.
He said the issues had been resolved.
He confirmed that the Special Forces bombed
the main operational headquarters of the
insurgents where many of them were killed in
droves.
Olukolade said, "There were operational
issues; the issues have been resolved for the
operation to commence.
The spokesman added that some of the
soldiers that were said to be missing had
returned to base.
"The troops only came to narrate their
operational experience to the commanders for
them to be resolved and they have been
resolved; and the operation is already
continuing," He said