From SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maidiguri –
Theater Commanders of Operation Lafiyà Dole, Theater Command Headquarters Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Major-General Farouk Yahaya, has debunked speculations that Nigerian troops or soldiers on operational activities in Baga 19 brigade were involved in fishing and farming businesses in the area.
Yahaya equally described as baseless and unfounded, insinuations that the troops had also taken over the fish business at Baga fish dam located at about 2 kilometers away from Baga town.
The Theater Commander, who was represented by the Deputy Theater Commander, Operation Lafiyà Dole, Major-General Felix Momoigui at a World Press confnference in Maiduguri on Friday, added that the utterances of Governor Babagama Umara Zulum of Borno state over his convoys attack at Baga on his way to the Baga fish dam outside Baga town by unknown uinfiomed men was dangerous and could demoralize the troops in operational activities in Baga area in the fight against the Insurgents.
According to him, investigative team which comprised of NA, NAF, NNN, NTA, Channels TV crew, NSCDC, NPF, CJTF and others swung into action by visiting Baga town and interfaced with the Brigade Commander, troops and other leaders in Baga, made snap shots of structures and places including vehicles, farm lands, military formation, buildings and others
The Theater Commander said the Investigative Team came out with some findings and recommendations as such: the troops were not involved in fishing or farming businesses, th allegations were unfounded and baseless allegations that troops deployed to Baga town engaged in farming and fishing activities in the shores of Lake Chad.
He added that a board of inquiry was instituted by the Theatre Commander to investigate the allegations made by the Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Major General Omoigui noted that , the Board of inquiry under his leadership was made up of the representative of Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps visited Army Super Camp 18 in Baga town where the investigative team found out that the allegation emanated from personnel of some security agencies without due investigation.
The Theater Comnander added the team further made some observations as follows: observed that the some vehicles with scrapped metals abandoned when the troops took over Baga from the Boko Haram terrorists were seen and mistaken for trucks loaded with fish,.
The team also observed that there was no civilian in Baga town while farmlands and pleaded within and outside Baga town have Improvised Explosive Devices or mines planted by the Boko Haram terrorists where presently about 154 IEDs were recovered and d disconnected .
Operational.activities in clearing the town to.make it safe for the Returnee IDPs was ongoing by the troops while providing security to the town.
He added that the troops were also under the rules and regulations of engagement and guided by the NA Act which don’t allow any soldier to engage n either fishing or farming business in his or her.area of deployment.
Theater Command observed also that the governor did not contact the Theater command and sector 3 authorities which he was intercepting and in contact with them always on getting the security reports or intelligence that troops were involved in fish business in Baga town before making any utterances or comment against the troops which could demoralize them in the fight against the Insurgents.
He further explained that the Investigative Team onse bed that the security personnel that passes intelligence to the Governor did not make proper Investigation before reporting to the Governor while calling on Security agencies to work in collaboration with each other to curtail future recurrence.
“It was also found out that the entire area of Baga town is heavily mined with improvised explosive device (IEDs) s that and there were no civilians living in Baga town while some of the vehicles seen in the town were abandoned before the troops delivered the town from the Insurgents and observed to be loaded with scrapped metals”, The theater Commander said
As part of the recommendations, he called on highly placed individuals to refrain from making unsubstantiated remarks as it could lead to demoralizing the troops and undermine the operations.
The Theatre Commander also called on Borno State Governor to always contact the appropriate authorities or clarify with the military high command on issues concerning troops activities before going to the public to make comment or utterances.
He noted that the purpose of the world press conference on the assessment of the Baga town issue and attack on the governor by the NA Headquarters was to clarify the issue and clear the air for continuous working relationship and boosting if morale of the troops at the war front in protecting lives and property of the citizenry and carrying out fight against the Insurgents.
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