Nigerian Military Abandons Over 50 Soldiers Trapped In Sambisa Forest After Attack By Boko Haram

According to Sahara Reporters, The Nigerian Military has abandoned soldiers trapped in Sambisa Forest after the troops were dislodged by Boko Haram terrorists.

SaharaReporters gathered that the attack happened on Friday, May 7, 2021 around 8 am.

Seventy-two hours after the attack and the retreat by the troops, the command headquarters of the Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, has not made any effort to rescue the soldiers.

Military sources revealed to Sahara Reporters that the soldiers, many of whom are wounded, have been trickling into Maiduguri since the incident.

A source, however, said the majority of the soldiers have not returned and there are no attempts by the military authorities to rescue them.

“It’s been over 72 hours since the Forward Observation Base in Bulabulin manned by 19 Battalion was attacked and dislodged by Boko Haram.

“One Captain and over 50 soldiers are trapped in that forest, Soldiers are dying of starvation in that bush.

“Some of them returned to Maiduguri, but the majority of them are still trying to find their way back to town but they are tired, hungry and abandoned.

“The painful part is that the heat in Borno state at the moment is so much. Anyone left in the forest might die. To make matters worse, our superiors in Maiduguri are not bothered. They have refused to send help to those out there to rescue them,” the source told SaharaReporters.

Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in Northeastern Nigeria.

The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.

In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents, who wait in ambush for them.

Scores of soldiers and officers have been reportedly killed since January 2021.

At least 25 soldiers were recently killed when a suicide bomber identified as Abdullah al-Ansari rammed an explosives-laden pick-up truck into a military convoy during a clash in Goniri, a border community between Yobe and Borno states, killing many soldiers.

In February, about 20 soldiers were also killed in Malari, Borno State by the insurgents.

SaharaReporters gathered that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following a credible intelligence when they were ambushed by the group.