Nigerian military deploys high-powered team to Baga





The military has come under intense criticism over its handling of the crisis.
Nigerian military headquarters on Thursday deployed a high-powered team of senior officers to Baga, Borno State amid international outrage that has trailed the death of at least 187 people in the community following a clash between government soldiers and members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
The defence spokesperson, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the team will assess the recent operation in the town.
The delegation is to be led by Major General Lawrence Ngubani, the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOPS) at the defence headquarters.
The military has come under intense backlash over its handling of the conflict which left the community, on the borderline of Lake Chad, in ruins, sending surviving residents escaping into the bushes.
The residents and witnesses said 185 people were killed and hundreds of houses destroyed after the military set the houses alight. The Red Cross said at least 187 died and another 77 injured in the attack.
The military Joint Task Force has denied the figures, saying they were exaggerated. But the force’s version of events, already controversial, drew more flak after it became clear its details were conflicting.
The military said on Monday it killed 25 militants, lost one soldier in an attack that occurred on Friday. Then on Tuesday, the Joint Task Force in Borno state said 30 Boko Haram members were killed, while only six civilians lost their lives. It added notably that the fighting occurred the previous Tuesday.
The killings have been condemned by the United Nations and the United States. But President Goodluck Jonathan said the figures were overstated. The president has ordered an investigation.
On Thursday, the Red Cross said its personnel were on ground in the community having arrived Wednesday evening.
The Director of Communication of the Nigerian Red Cross, Nwapa O. Nwapa, told PREMIUM TIMES that evaluation was ongoing to ascertain the needs of the people. He declined to give the agency’s impression of the damage on the ground.
“The Red Cross may not be concerned about the extent of the damages or who did what, we are concerned with getting immediate help to those affected,” he said.” The assessment will check whether they need clothing, food and others.”
Also, the National Emergency Management Agency said on Thursday it had begun distribution of relief materials to the victims.
NEMA said its team arrived in the town to provide immediate relief to the victims and will reach out to those in critical conditions.
NEMA Director of Rescue and Search operation, Charles Otebegde, said that the North East Zonal Coordinator, Mohammed Kanar, had already set up a camp for the victims at the Kukawa council secretariat in Baga.
He said Mr. Kanar had visited the villages to convince some of the victims lacking shelter to relocate to the camp.
Materials distributed to the victims included food items, mats, clothing materials and toiletries.
Some of the victims who needed medical attention were also treated by a combined team of the agency and the Red Cross Society.




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