We Are Not Fishermen, Nigerian Army To Gov Zulum.

…Says  Alleged Involvement Of Troops In Fish Business In Baga, Baseless, Unfounded. 

From Sadiq Abubakar

Maiduguri

Don’t label the Nigerian military in theaters of operation against insurgents in Baga Borno state, fishermen,    Commanders, Operation Lafiyà Dole, Theater Command Headquarters Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Major General Farouk Yahaya, cautions Professor Babagana  Zulum, Governor of Borno state,

The army urged Gov Zulun to always contact  higher command before going public or make utterances  against  the Troops.

Condemning in strong terms what he describes as “the speculaltioms making the round in towns that Nigerian troops or soldiers on operational activities in Baga  19 Brigade are involved in fishing and farming businesses in.baga  area and have also taken over the fish business at Baga fish dam located at about 2  kilometers away from Baga town  as baseless and unfounded”, the army told Zulum not to rely on “Claims some security personnel told him” calling these “unconfirmed  Intelligence”.

The Theater Commander who was represented by the Deputy Theater Commander, Operation Lafiyà Dole, Major General Felix Momoigui at a World Press Cinference stated this on Friday at the Theater Command Headquarters Maiduguri, adding that  the utterances of Govenror Zulum over the attack on his convoys at Baga on his way to the Baga fish dam outside Baga town by unknown uinfiomed men  was dangerous and could demoralize the troops in operational activities in Baga area in th fight against the Insurgents.

Addressing journalists on  the findings, observation and recommendations of an investigative team constituted by the Theater Commander and headed by the Deputy Theater Commander to assess the allegations made against the Nigerian military in Baga, Gen Yahaya absolved the troops of any involvement in the alleged fishing and farming in Baga.

According to him,  investigative team which comprised NA, NAF, NNN, NTA, Channels TV crew, NSCDC, NPF, CJTF and others swung into action by visiting Baga town and interfaced  with the Brigade Commander, troops  and other leaders in Baga, made snap shots of structures and places including vehicles, farm lands, military formation, biuldings and others

The Theater. Cimnander said  the investigative team came out with some findings and recommendations as such: the troops were not involved in fishing or farming businesses,  th allegations were  unfounded and baseless allegations that troops deployed to Baga town engaged in farming and fishing activities in the shores of Lake Chad.

He added that a board of inquiry was instituted by the Theatre Commander to investigate the allegations made by  Governor Zulum.

Major General Omoigui noted that  the board of inquiry under his leadership was made up of the representative of Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps visited Army Super Camp 18 in Baga town where the investigative team found out that the allegation emanated from personnel of some security agencies without due investigation.

The Theater Comnander added the team further made some observations as follows: observed that  the some vehicles  with scrapped  metals   abandoned when the troops took over Baga from the BHTs were  seen and mistaken for trucks loaded with fish.

The team also observed that there was no civilian in Baga town while farmlands and plavea within and outside Baga town have Improvised Explosive Devices or mines planted by the BHTs  where presently about 154  IEDs were recovered  and  disconnected.

Operational activities in clearing the town to make it safe for the returnees IDPs was ongoing by the troops while providing secuirty to the town.

He added that the troops were also under the rules and regulations of engagement and guided by the NA Act  which don’t allow any soldier to engage in either fishing or farming business in his or her area of deployment.

Theater Command observed also that the govenror did not contact the Theater command and sector 3  authorities which he was intercating and in contact with them always  on getting the secuirty reports or intelligence that troops were involved  in fish business in Baga town before making any utterances or comment against the troops which could demoralize them in th fight against the insurgents.

He further explained that the Investigative team observed that the secuirty personnel that passes intelligence to the Govenror did not make proper Investigation before reporting to the Govenror while calling on security  agencies to work in  collaboration