About 15 citizens of Chad were on Thursday, January 15, 2015 confirmed to be among the 42 murdered victims of the attack by the Boko Haram Islamist extremists in the Biu area of troubled Borno state.
The coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, who made this disclosure during a press brief in Abuja, added that the Department of State Security would commence investigation concerning the five militants who were captured alive in the attack, according to Punch reports.
Earlier, the Defence Headquarters had released some graphic photos from the attack which occurred on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.
Barely 24 hours after the attack, President Goodluck Jonathan had stormed Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in a surprise visit to the Nigerian soldiers deployed in the state in commemoration of the 2015 annual Armed Forces Remembrance day.
Also speaking during the press brief was the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Sani Sidi, who revealed that about 981,416 persons were in the internally Displaced People’s camps following natural disasters and insurgency majorly in the northern axis of the nation.
Omeri said, “Today (Thursday) is Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Nigeria and it is set aside to remember the heroic effort of members of the Armed forces especially those who made the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our country and mankind.
“This year’s remembrance clearly brings to the fore the need for continuous support of the military especially in the campaign to end insurgency in some parts of the country. Therefore, we pay tribute to all our soldiers and other members of the security services who have been maimed, wounded or killed in the course of the campaign to defeat Boko Haram.
He added, “In another vein, despite the fact that it is nine months since our girls were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok town, government has not relented and will not relent in deploying all efforts to ensure the rescue of these girls. The government therefore reassures the parents and relations of these girls, and in fact, all Nigerians of its commitment in this regards.
“The Nigerian Army successfully countered an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants near the town of Biu, Borno State. At least 42 insurgents, including 15 Chadians, were killed during an intense ground battle, which saw the military repel and then advance on the militants.
