Abuja’s Defence Headquarters has said it couldn’t stop the deadly Christmas Eve attacks in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi counties in Plateau State because troops were giving the jihadist herders a hot chase in another 19 villages.
Edward Buba, Defense Headquarters spokesperson, told local press on Friday that more than 100 killer mercenaries overran the communities simultaneously as the military received 36 distress calls from defenceless villagers.
“Troops responded to the calls and were able to intervene in 19 villages forcing the militants to withdraw. Unfortunately, the havoc had been committed before troops arrived at the other villages,” Buba added. He said the military had a hard time getting to Bokkos and Barkin Ladi in time to quell the attack “because of the rugged terrain which is mostly inaccessible to vehicles.” If the figures from the spokesperson are true, and if the report of the Plateau Civil Society Organization Platform are true [28 villages attacked], it follows that 47 villages were attacked from Dec. 24 to Dec. 29. TruthNigeria reporters have interviewed military sources who conclude that attacking terrorists had more than 3,000 armed killers invading Plateau State. Some observers want to know why the Nigerian Air Force did not commit Super Turcano attack fighters or armed drones to deter the invaders?
Buba further said the Nigerian military killed 6,880 terrorists and criminals across the country and arrested 6,970 others in 2023. He added that troops also rescued 4,488 kidnapped hostages and recovered 3,320 assorted weapons and 39,075 assorted ammunition during the year.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
