8th April, 2014
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Nigeria’s military authorities said on Tuesday that five of their men fighting the Boko Haram insurgent group in Borno, North east Nigeria were killed by the sect in an ambush during an assault on the terrorists’ enclaves in Sambisa forests and surrounding locations.
“Operational activities around Wala, Gwoza, Pulka and environs have been intensified. Encounters resulting from air and land strikes and an ambush of troops on patrols in the area have resulted in the death of scores of terrorists and loss of 5 soldiers including an officer,” Major General Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information said in a statement.
The Defence spokesperson also announced that a timely distress call saved communities besieged by terrorists in search of food around the Lake Chad area. 
According to him, the heavily armed terrorists scampered for safety before they could carry out their mission on sensing the approach of Nigerian troops.
“The troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force on patrol of the area have so far recovered some arms and ammunition left behind by fleeing terrorists. Cordon and search of the area is continuing with a view to apprehending any of the terrorists that could be lurking around.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian military authorities have described statement issued by the Secretary General of Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu alleging extra-judicial killing of Muslims and people of Fulani ethnic group by the Nigerian military as spurious and inflammatory.
In a statement signed by General Olukolade, Nigerian military affirmed that it remains non-partisan, non-sectarian and will continue to be the symbol of patriotism and a unifying factor in the face of threats to national sovereignty.
“If this wild allegation was meant to cause disaffection or brew disharmony within the military, then it has woefully failed as the Nigerian military does not operate along religious or ethnic lines,” Olukolade said while emphasising the no law abiding individual, faith, ethnic group or organisation is being targeted as alleged by JNI.
“It is unfortunate that the unjust imputation is coming from respectable and responsible organisation like JNI,” he added while urging the body not to join the class of those he described as propagandists bent on discrediting genuine efforts at finding solutions to the nation’s security challenges.
The military will continue to be driven by patriotism and commitment to the cause of the nation and its law abiding citizens. All responsible organisations are requested to cooperate in the efforts at addressing the nation’s security challenges rather than compound the problem.
“Individuals with similar prejudices are advised to abandon such biases as the challenges at hand calls for prayers and support of all well-meaning organisations and groups instead of trying to turn the public against the military. Rather, all responsible organisations should be more interested in seeking solutions to the nation’s security challenges.
“It must be noted that the Armed Forces comprises Nigerians from all religious persuasions and cannot be used against any particular religion as purported. The military will not be distracted by unfair imputations from any quarter.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian military and other security agencies do not have any policy, agenda or plans to perpetrate massacre or extra judicial killing of law abiding citizens.
“The authorities have no reason to take side or shield anyone from justice. Individuals apprehended in the course of counter-terrorism campaign will continue to have access to justice as provided by law,” the Director of Defence Information added.