Military arrests General, senior officers over Baga attack

The authorities of the Nigerian military have arrested senior Army
personnel on attachment to the Multi National Joint Task Force.
Those arrested and placed under movement restriction are a Brig. Gen,
a Lt. Col. and five other officers of the Nigerian Army deployed to
the Baga headquarters of Multinational Joint Task Force, which was
attacked and taken over by members of the Boko Haram sect on January
5, 2015.
Investigations revealed that the military authorities arrested the
Brigadier-General and six other officers including a Lt. Col. in
Maiduguri and moved them to Abuja for questioning.
The arrested officers are expected to answer questions on the loss of
men and location, and military equipment which were taken over by the
insurgents.
It was learnt that Baga came under attack barely 48 hours after the
Army moved weapons to fortify the place in anticipation of a
well-coordinated onslaught against the insurgents.
The Army authorities are angry that some of the equipment fell into
the hands of the insurgents.
It was learnt that the leadership of the Army decided to order the
arrest of the affected senior officers in line with military tradition
that the senior officers may have lost command in view of the
circumstances surrounding the fall of Baga and had some clarifications
to make.
It was learnt that the Army authorities would interrogate the affected
officials to find out from them the circumstances surrounding the Boko
Haram invasion of the headquarters of the MNJT and other places under
their control.
The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,
confirmed that officers of the Army on deployment to the MNJTF were
being made to answer questions for the loss of men and equipment
during the Baga attack in a text message to our correspondent on
Friday.
He said that the decision of the Army leadership was normal as it was
designed to gather necessary information for future operations in the
area.
He said, "Nigerian officers in key command positions of the Multi
National Joint Task Force are in the process of accounting for their
action in the mission area leading to loss of weapons, men and
location in their area of responsibility.
"This is a normal military procedure in major operations and after
some encounter.
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"The essence is to extract and collate relevant information for
subsequent missions. It could also lead to or determine appropriate
disciplinary action where necessary."
Olukolade also said that troops had killed a substantial number of
insurgents who were operating in Michika, the headquarters of the
Michika Local Government Area.
He said that the troops had commenced an extensive mopping up
operation in search of weapons, stranded terrorists and casualties.
"An extensive mopping up operation to search for arms or stranded
terrorists and other casualties is ongoing in Michika after troops
sacked the terrorists, who have been operating in the town and its
environ.
"The main assault on terrorists' main positions was concluded
yesterday (Thursday) as many of them died in the combat. Troops who
sustained injuries in the operation are receiving necessary medical
attention.
"Other troops are continuing the pursuit of those who are on the run
from the town. Normalcy has been restored accordingly," he added.
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