(Picture:Some of the captured Boko Haram insurgents)
The multiple attacks by Boko Haram on Maiduguri, Konduga and Monguno in Borno State early in the week was a desperate and diversionary attempt to both pre-empt a massive onslaught and create avenue for escape for insurgent commanders.
But the most callous aspect of the attacks was the conscription and deployment of child-soldiers, teenage-female suicide bombers and animals to frustrate troops.
A source told PRNigeria: “The increasing use of child fighters and women in their campaign of terror in the recent encounter is quite baffling. They used animals, armed children and occasional women to confront the soldiers while their commanders operate from the back and mostly in the armoured vehicles”
Newsdiaryonline learned that though most of these child soldiers were conscripted by the terrorists, there is also a very disturbing hint that some of the youth flocking into Boko Haram camps are also doing so voluntarily.This brings into sharp focus the need to put in place measures to discourage teenagers from flocking into Boko Haram camps.
Senior military officers knowledgeable about military tactics and operations concerning plans to launch the “wipe off” attack on terrorists infested locations in the north east told PRNigeria that the attacks on the three towns could be a further confirmation of allegations that there were Boko Haram moles in high places.
It is common knowledge that the military were preparing a comprehensive onslaught on the Boko Haram terrorists in an operation meant to rid the entire region of insurgency in time for the February general elections.
According to a source, weekend’s multiple strike by the insurgents was meant to slow down or even prevent and divert the attention of the military from commencing the determined operation against them.
The source added that the pattern of the attack was also common to the terrorists who embark upon such desperate and unlikely to succeed attacks just to create room for terrorists’ commanders to escape from their camps in view of impending military raids in the areas.
PRNigeria gathered that Some residents of the affected community were also blamed for aiding and abetting the terrorists by providing information about troops’ movements and wonder how the military can succeed in the fight against terrorists when those they are supposed to be defending are the real enemies.
Also, PRNigeria gathered that the recent retreat of soldiers from Monguno occurred following betrayal of the troops by some locals who leaked some information to the terrorists and subsequent attacks from strange locations within the community.
Unfortunately, troops do not have the same leeway to operate like terrorists because they are bound to observe international rules of engagement.
The source added that: “Attacks or retaliation by the military on suspected areas occupied by civilians could be tagged as human right abuse and negating international conventions on rules of engagements.
Though sources who spoke with Newsdiaryonline did not dismiss such claims by the military, they however said there had been also instances where civilians provided information to the military about Boko Haram movement and nothing was done to stop attacks.They cited the recent attack on Baga where civilians and civilian JTF were said to have noticed the gathering of Boko Haram some days before the attack.This intelligence was alleged passed over to military authorities but nothing was done until the insurgents attacked Baga killing the now controversial 2000 People.Amnesty International reported on Wednesday that the military authorities were informed ahead of Attacks.The Defence headquarters furiously dismissed the AI report as misleading
But some residents of Baga told Newsdiaryonline said that even after Boko Haram began attacking Baga, it was civilian JTF that kept the insurgents away from Baga for several hours .The resistance of civilian JTF against Boko Haram I that attack on Baga collapsed when soldiers were seen taking to their heels,sources said.”There is frustration among civilians over the reluctance of the military on the field to act when given information.The military hierarchy need to probe these claims further,” said one source who spoke with Newsdiaryonline.
A military source who spoke with PRNigeria however said “Allegations that the military failed to protect civilians despite being aware that terrorists were about to attack the towns are faulty if the evidence was that civilians were already moving from the places that were eventually attacked.
“First, I want to put it to you that citizens have been moving away from the entire region in droves in the last many months since the terrorists increased their pace of attacks and it is not only from Monguno, Baga or Konduga.
“These towns have been repeatedly attacked by terrorists and our men have repeatedly repelled them but how do we now begin to tell civilians to evacuate their towns because of this. Will it be to cause panic and make people think that we can no longer protect them?”
One cause of concern among some civilians,according to a source who spoke with Newsdiaryonline is the claim that civilian JTF members were drafted ahead in the battle to protect Maiduguri.”Military authorities should investigate claims that young,literally unarmed boys were used as human shield by the military as the battle to repel Maiduguri raged recently.These boys were killed in droves by Boko Haram just outside Maiduguri,”one source who spoke under condition of anonymity said.
Sources say north east elders find it difficult to speak out individually because of fear of ‘reprisal’ action by the powers- that- be.The security details of a former service chief were withdrawn after he criticized the lack of progress in the battle against Boko Haram,Newsdiaryonline was told.
With Reports Mainly By PRNigeria
