The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday lamented what it called the incessant but avoidable killings of the country’s gallant soldiers by insurgents in the northeast and demanded explanations from President Muhammadu Buhari.
The opposition party said after a thorough review of the killings, especially the alleged killing of over 70 soldiers of the 157 Task Force Battalion in Melete, Borno State, by invading insurgents, who reportedly sent a threat letter last Friday, to take over military locations in the area, clarifications were needed from the Buhari Presidency.
A statement by the party’s national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the PDP was worried particularly against the backdrop of earlier claims by the Federal Government that insurgents operating in the northeast had been defeated.
“The party is very worried by reports of alleged compromises, neglect and inattention to military formations in the northeast leading to the vulnerability of our beloved soldiers.
“This is in addition to apprehensions by Nigerians that the Buhari Presidency has been distracting our military by dragging our Service Chiefs to participate in his re-election campaign activities, instead of concentrating on their statutory duties.”
The party, however, said it still had implicit faith in the Nigerian military and urged the “Buhari Presidency to desist from acts that tend to whittle the proficiency and compromise the safety of our men and women who are daily risking their lives in defence of our nation.”
“Our party, therefore, charges President Buhari to be alive to his responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief by immediately reviewing his parade to ensure greater professionalism and welfare of our officers and men.
“Finally, the PDP calls on Nigerians not to despair in the face of this ugly development but continue to join forces with our security agencies in the effort to cleanse our land of bandits, insurgents and marauders.”
Security sources disclosed on November 21 that no less than 44 soldiers were killed during attacks which occurred at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad. Sources insist that the numbers were much higher.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched the Minister of Defence, retired Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali, to Chad for an emergency meeting with the Chadian President, Idris Deby, on the deterioration of security at the Nigeria – Chad border.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on Friday that Dan-Ali had on Thursday briefed President Buhari on security development across the country.
He also briefed him about the recent killings of some Nigerian soldiers by the Islamic West Africa Province, a breakaway Boko Haram sect, operating along Nigeria – Chad border.
