Nigerian Army Declares 22 Soldiers Wanted for ‘Running’ From Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army has accused one major and 21 soldiers of fleeing from the scene of a Boko Haram attack and subsequently declared them wanted, military sources said.

The soldiers were declared as deserters bound to face dire consequences if found.

The soldiers were said to have fled from the scene of a Boko Haram attack in Gubio, a community in Borno State now partly controlled by insurgents, on September 29. Reports said 18 soldiers were killed during the attack on a military outpost in the community.

The Nigerian Army did not confirm the attack or acknowledge own casualties, but senior officers began immediately working to establish the level of resistance or damage from troops during the attack. In the aftermath, 22 soldiers were unavailable without immediate indication that they were missing in action or seized by Boko Haram

It was unclear whether the alleged desertion of the major and his men was informed by previous threats from Tukur Buratai, the head of the Nigerian Army, that soldiers would be severely punished if they abandon positions during a Boko Haram attack.

Allegations of desertion remained a recurring feature in the Nigerian Army since Boko Haram counter efforts became the single most challenging task for the Nigerian Army at the start of the decade.

More than a dozen allegations of desertion involving hundreds of soldiers had been formally raised by the military within the same period.