Matele attack: Igbo group questions Buhari over killing of soldiers, demand sack of security chiefs

A socio-cultural and political organization, the Igbo Canadian
Community Association, ICCA/Umunna, has raised questions over the
deadly attack on soldiers by Boko Haram in the North East.

The group called on President Muhamadu Buhari to with immediate effect
sack the defense chiefs for its failure to adequately protect the
lives of combatant soldiers deployed to fight the war against Boko
Haram insurgents in the North-East of the country.

ICCA described the performance of the current administration in the
war on terror as dismally embarrassing; abjectly incompetent and
invariably discouraging to officers and soldiers of the Nigeria Army
who are involved in the defense of the country.

The President of the group, Chief Ugochukwu Okoro, in a statement
issued to DAILY POST in Toronto, said, "the recent attack on soldiers
and officers of 157 Task Force Battalion, Metele, Borno State on
November 18, this year by the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram of
which videos were circulated online is gravely unfortunate,
irreprehensible and totally embarrassing of the armed forces of a
country like Nigeria."

The ICCA/Umunna said that though they share in the pain and anguish
that befell the heroic and gallant soldiers who paid the supreme
sacrifice in the line of duty and also mourn with the families of the
victims of the attack while respecting loved ones during this period
of mourning, it is also expedient and necessary that questions need to
be asked of how such horrendous calamity occurred and have been
happening, stating that the service chiefs should be held responsible
for the failures leading to such tragedy.

"We boldly say that the Minister of Defence Dan Ali Monsur, Chief of
Defense Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff,
Lt Gen. T.Y. Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral IE Ibas and
Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar as well as the
Director General of the Directorate for State Security, Yusuf Magaji
Bichi, should be held responsible for such wanton failures recorded in
our armed forced recently."

"We have seen videos of the attack purported recorded and being
circulated by our soldiers in the theatre of war complaining of
inadequate arms and ammunition to carry out the ongoing war. They
complain of obsolete armoury and weaponry, lack of supplies,
non-payment of allowances and even unsteady food supply for soldiers
in the line of defense which is totally unacceptable and deserving of
an investigation.

"It is rather worrisome that despite reports that the Nigeria Army
received advance notice from the insurgents, inadequate preparation,
reconnaissance, intelligence and tactics were not deployed to wade off
and prevent the eventuality from occurring leading us to wonder what
the Directorate for Military Intelligence (DMI) and DSS are doing."

The Melete attack left hundreds of soldiers and officer killed with a
reported 150 soldiers still missing in action.

The ICCA/Umunna also questioned how the insurgents moved unhindered
into the military formation without being detected.

"Also, we have learned from reports that Boko Haram fighters disguised
in military fatigues of the Nigeria Army and gained entrance and
access to the office of the Commanding Officer and this begs us to
ask, how does Boko Haram get their supplies?

"Doesnt the NA have channels in communication of movement of troops to
its bases?

"How come despite alleged warnings by Boko Haram, nothing was done to
consolidate the defence of the base?

"What response and support did the Nigeria Airforce give during the
period the attack lasted?"