DHQ, This Ambush is One Too Many

Notes for File

After delaying the confirmation of the tragic incident, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) last week admitted that 36 officers were killed during the ambush and helicopter crash that occurred in Wushishi and Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger State.

The Director of Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this during a biweekly briefing on operations of the DHQ.

On August 14, an aircraft conveying wounded soldiers from a scene of an ambush by bandits in Wushishi LGA, crashed in Chukuba village, Shiroro LGA.

Several military personnel were reportedly killed by terrorists who attacked Kundu village near Zungeru.

“Our troops entered into an ambush in the general area of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State,” he said.

“The ambush led to a firefight which resulted in the death of three officers and 22 soldiers, while seven were wounded in action.

“As a result of this, there was need for casualty evacuation whereby the air force helicopter was dispatched.

“While that operation was on and inbound to Kaduna, the helicopter crashed.

“It crashed with 14 of the previously killed in action personnel at the ambush, seven of the previously wounded in action personnel at the ambush, two pilots of the helicopter and two crew members.”

The defence media director urged the public to remain patriotic and to be wary of propaganda spread by terrorists.

No matter how the military would want the story to be told, this ambush is one too many.

It has to put its house in order and unleash its superior firepower on these non-state actors that have been causing Nigeria a nightmare.

The leadership of the armed forces should go back to the drawing board and map out war strategies against these terrorists. It is a huge shame for the military of the giant of Africa to be embarrassed by the ill-equipped and poorly-trained terrorists.

 The terrorists that occupied several kilometres of the Nigerian soil where they unleash terror on the civilian population and security agents should be the priority of the Nigerian government and not the political situation in Niger Republic.

The troops being mobilised for the Nigerien military operation should be deployed to recover all the spaces seized by terrorists. No inch of Nigerian soil should be controlled by terrorists.