Security
THE Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Sunday, October 8, gave a hint why the military was yet to rescue the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, lecturers, oil workers and women abducted by Boko Haram terrorists, saying the sect was using the captives as a shield.
It said that the military could apply full force to free the captives, but soft-pedalled owing to the collateral damage that could follow such decision. Ten women, including female police personnel, were kidnapped on June 21 this year along Damboa Road in Borno State.
They were seized after their assailants ambushed a convoy of security personnel who was heading for a burial in Adamawa State.
In the same manner, the varsity teachers, who were part of an oil exploration team in the state, were captured on July 25 this year.
Nevertheless, John Enenche, a major-general and the director of Defence Information, DDI, assured the residents that all the kidnapped persons would soon be freed like some of the Chibok school girls.
He disclosed that the military was applying lot of caution in the rescue operations as not to endanger the lives of the captives. The defence spokesman rejected calls from certain quarters asking for the wholesale bombing of the territories occupied by the terrorists.
He said: “So, that is why a lot of caution is being exercised even if you have a footage or real time evidence that these people are there. Once they are being used as human shield, then you need to be very careful on the rescue mission.
“I assure you that actions are on, intelligence is still being processed and strategies are being considered on how to ensure that the lovely citizens come out alive just like some of the Chibok girls.”
Among the captives are two lecturers in the Geology Department of the university namely Yusuf Ibrahim and Solomon N. Yusuf. The third man was simply identified self as Haruna.
– Oct 9, 2017 @ 16:00 GMT /
Tags: Adamawa State John Enenche others still in captivity – Military UNIMAID University of Maiduguri Why University of Maiduguri teachers
