847 soldiers killed by Boko Haram, buried in Borno cemetery – Ndume

Sen. Ali Ndume

……Army asks Ndume to prove Boko Haram killed over 840 soldiers

The Chairman,  Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume,  said on Tuesday that  840 Nigerian soldiers killed by the Boko Haram terrorists from  2013 till date were buried in the Military cemetery located in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He said the figure did not include other soldiers killed by the insurgents and buried in other military cemeteries located in other parts of the North-East geopolitical zone.

Ndume, who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the findings by his colleagues who recently returned from Maiduguri, however, denied reports of mass burial of soldiers killed by the terrorists.

He also said the Senate panel was already investigating allegations that some non-governmental agencies operating in the North-East, were providing useful information to the Boko Haram leaders.

Army asks Ndume to prove Boko Haram killed over 840 soldiers

The Nigerian army has asked Ali Ndume, chairman, senate committee on army, to provide evidence showing over 840 soldiers have been killed by Boko Haram insurgents.

The senator representing Borno south had on Tuesday said from 2013 till date, not less than 840 soldiers have been buried in the military cemetery located in Maiduguri, Borno capital.

Ndume said his committee had just returned from a trip to Borno where they discovered that soldiers were under-equipped to confront the insurgents.

But Sagir Musa, army’s spokesman, dismissed Ndume’s claim.

“If he says so, then he should substantiate. What is his source? Let him provide it,” Sagir told TheCable via telephone.

In a report in August, The Wall Street Journal said over 1,000 soldiers were killed on the frontline and were secretly buried in Maiduguri.

Quoting military sources, the newspaper said the number of soldiers buried in that manner could be higher than the figure.

Over the months, the insurgents have attacked military bases and formations in the war theatre, killing soldiers.

 THE PUNCH

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