THE Nigeria Army has apologised to Nigerians for giving out wrong information on the attack on the federal government crew carrying out oil exploration activities in the Lake Chad Basin.

The crew comprising third party staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, University of Maiduguri, military men and Civilian Joint Task Force, were attacked on Tuesday last week by Boko Haram insurgents and more than 70 people died including soldiers.

The Army, in an earlier statement, said all those missing had been recovered and only one soldier died.

However, in a video on Friday, three staff of the UNIMAID said they were being held hostage by the Abu Albarwani faction of the Boko Haram sect. Albarwani faction broke away from the Abubakar Shekau group.

This prompted the army to issue another   statement on Sunday in Maiduguri, apologising for the wrong information it put out earlier.

The statement signed by Brigadier General Sani Usman,  director army public relations, said the army recovered vehicles and various calibres of weapons in the operation.

“So far the search and rescue team has recovered additional bodies of five soldiers, 11 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and five members of the exploration team.

“Contrary to reports in some media, six out of the 12 members of the exploration team that went out are still missing, while one of the NNPC staff returned to base alive,” Usman said.

He said: “The incident of 25th July, 2017, where Boko Haram insurgents ambushed our troops including members of the CJTF) escorting some staff of the NNPC as well as that of University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, on oil exploration in Yesu District of Magumeri Local Government Area of the state is unfortunate and highly regrettable.

“Most regrettable also is my earlier release on the said incident about the rescue of all NNPC Staff. The error in the statement was not deliberate.

“Search and rescue is still ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining civilians.

“The Nigerian Army condoles with the families of all that lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident,” he said.

According to him, the army recovered three of its gun trucks from the insurgents, in addition to four Rocket Propelled Grenade, four RPG chargers, six AK-47 rifles, one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Anti-Aircraft Gun Barrel, one RPG tube, four dane guns, eight tyres and two rims.

Other items recovered included one pumping machine gun, two tyre jacks, one super battery, five reflective jackets, three Toyota Hilux, four jerry cans filled with petrol, one Motorola radio, one Geographical Positioning System, 21 empty jerry cans, two shovels and three food coolers.

Troops also recovered 122 rounds of PKM ammunition, 213 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 1255 Anti-Aircraft Guns ammunition, four boxes of API 12.7mm ammunition, one AK-47 Rifle Magazine, a digger, two bows and 13 Arrows, two LLG bombs, assorted drugs and working tools.

“We are counting on the goodwill and support of the populace in volunteering valuable information that could help in the search and rescue operation,” Usman said.

– July 30, 2017 @ 8: 46 GMT /