THE Nigerian Army yesterday said it is not aware of the death of any of its soldiers serving in the Niger Delta. It also denied exchange of gunfire between the militants and troops serving in the area for days.
A militant group yesterday claimed that it killed three Nigerian Army soldiers last Thursday.
However, the Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Mohammed Yussuf told The Guardian that the Army was “fully aware” that three soldiers serving with a unit left their duty posts last Thursday without authorisation.
He said that further investigation showed that the militants in the area abducted them.
“We are not aware of the killing of our soldiers,” Yussuf said. “There was no attack, no exchange of fire between the militants and troops of the Nigerian Army.
“What happened was that on Thursday, three soldiers serving in Bayelsa left their duty posts to an unknown destination. The Army authorities set to find out what happened and why they left because their movement was unauthorised.
“And we later found out that they were abducted by the militants in the area. It is not that the militants attacked their duty posts. There was no exchange of gunfire. They were abducted.”
Yussuf added: “As of now, I have no information on whether they are alive or have been killed as is being claimed by the group holding them. I don’t have such information as of now.”