An unspecified number of soldiers are feared killed in an attack on a military outpost in Marina, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

It is not clear the casualties suffered on either side, but some soldiers were feared killed.

The soldiers were said to be returning from an operation in a nearby forest when they were ambushed.

A resident of the area, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told DailyTrust, “Unknown to the soldiers, the bandits had laid an ambush in their outpost. The bandits opened fire immediately the soldiers returned to the posts.

“It is unfortunate because the soldiers were just returning from another operation, where they made tremendous success, combing the forests for the bandits, only to be waylaid in their base,” he said.

Another resident, however, said two of the bandits were killed during the gun duel.

Attempts to confirm the incident from the military or the police authorities proved abortive.

Saharareporters

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has fingered the watchman of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, where about 300 students were abducted last week, of being complicit in the incident.

He also said repentant bandits held talks with their unrepentant counterparts and were able to secure the release of the schoolgirls.

Matawalle spoke on Wednesday while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by The PUNCH.

The governor had said Nigerians will be shocked if they know the identities of those behind the mass abduction.

When asked to reveal the identities of masterminds of the abduction, Matawalle said, “The security agents in the state are aware that when we were trying to rescue these children without paying ransom, other people were behind talking to them that money will be given to them that they shouldn’t release them to the state government.

“This is a complete sabotage for my government and we have a lot of intelligence on this and I am going to inform the relevant authorities.

“The children have mentioned the watchman of the school, that after releasing them, the bandits were telling them that they should greet the watchman for them, they even mentioned his name that he was the one who gave them the go-ahead to come, he was involved.

“They (the schoolgirls) have said this before the commissioner of police in Zamfara State.

“I assure Nigerians that investigation will be carried out and all the people involved will be known.”

The Punch

The Nigerian Army has declared a total of 12 officers and 89 soldiers wanted for deserting the war front in Borno State.

The army authorities have also frozen the banks accounts of the affected personnel.

Military sources told PREMIUM TIMES the soldiers absconded from duty after insurgents attacked their camps in Marte and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno State, leaving scores of their colleagues dead.

This newspaper had exclusively reported how at least seven soldiers of the Nigerian Army were confirmed dead after Boko Haram terrorists attacked Marte.

The soldiers, attached to the 15 Task Force Battalion, were ambushed and dislodged after hours of intense fighting, sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

According to those familiar with the matter, the troops were overwhelmed and could not withstand the superior firepower of the terrorists.

The unit then tactically retreated and relocated to Dikwa, which was attacked again.

The Nigerian Army recently announced the recovery of Marte and other communities.

Order to apprehend deserters

Military insiders said the order to arrest and freeze bank accounts of the fleeing soldiers came from authorities of Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno.

Various formations of the army have been notified to immediately apprehend and deliver any of the soldiers found in their areas of responsibilities.

An internal memo to that effect has already been circulated to various formations, our sources said.

Full list of the officers and soldiers who deserted the army:

1. GY Mohammed
2. EP Nwangwu
3. US Muhammad
4. EG Utok
5. A Ibrahim
6. US Ibrahim
7. ME Ochei
8. EN Essien
9. FC Maduako
10. KO Adejare
11. S Mammada
12. YJ Ishaya
13. Muazu Yusuf
14. Musa Usman
15. Idris Garba
16. Chigbo John
17. Aminu Mohammed
18. Godfrey Samuel
19. Christopher Silas
20. Okoro Emeka
21. Meze Hillary
22. Zakka Peter
23. Onyebuchi Kennedy
24. Okunola Oluwasegun
25. Suoyefe Abiola
26. Mwankat Shalmak
27. Ekekien Peter
28. Daniel Emmanuel
29. John Monday
30. Yakubu Amos
31. Aminu Saidu
32. Pius Okoro
33. Kenebra Shedrach
34. Dominic Eworo
35. Ojo Oluwasegun
36. Nura Lawal
37. Yakubu Suleiman
38. Johnson Chorus
39. Isah Shaibu
40. Nasiru Hamisu
41. Jibrin Sa’adu
42. John Ukpenkune
43. Umar Sani
44. Mustapha Suleiman
45. Isiaq Adam
46. Muhammed Ahmed
47. John Richard
48. Kabiru Hashimu
49. Awuna Monday
50. Isah John
51. Zamani Fidelis
52. Abubakar Adam
53. Philip Chia
54. Ogundipe GBenga
55. Samson Unite
56. Francis Audu
57. Abubakar Musa
58. Ibrahim Adamu
59. Sadiq Abubakar
60. Lawal Abdullahi
61. Ajala David
62. Suleiman Jamilu
63. Okoro Ama
64. Sunday Sule
65. Aimato Abdulsalam
66. Abubakar Musa
67. Suleiman Kabiru
68. Onu Kingsley
69. Buba Usman
70. James John
71. Hussaini Adamu
72. Shamsudeen Ismail
73. Saidu Sani
74. Abdullahi Musa
75. Abubakar Yahaya
76. Edosa Aigboje
77. Ibrahim Umar
78. Chukwujekwu Okenwa
79. Abdullahi Usman
80. Ukali Emmanuel
81. Joseph Benard
82. Ewubare Gold
83. Abimiku Sunday
84. Ibrahim Mansur
85. Joseph Ayuba
86. Ayanyemi Tayo
87. Remember Jeremiah
88. Jimoh Adesina
89. Ukwokori Precious
90. Ayawei Ayibatemi
91. Kalu Sunday
92. Abdulkadir Ahmed
93. Osakwe Festus N
94. Badamashi Omokafe
95. Levi Pwagureno
96. Paul Pilate Saddam
97. Bello Musa
98. Moses Ayo
99. Ademu Alih
100. Ogobi Fredrick
101. Benedict Uduebor

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