How Nigerian army abandoned over 50 soldiers trapped in sambisa forest after attack by Boko Haram

Soldiers trapped in Sambisa Forest have been abandoned by the Nigerian Military after the troops were forced out by Boko Haram terrorists.

It was gathered that the attack happened on Friday, May 7, 2021 around 8 am.

The command headquarters of the Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, has not made any effort to rescue the soldiers,
seventy-two hours after the attack and the retreat by the troops.

It was disclosed to that the soldiers, many of whom are wounded, have been creeping into Maiduguri since the incident.

A source, however, said the majority of the soldiers have not returned and there are no attempts by the military authorities to rescue them.

“It’s been over 72 hours since the Forward Observation Base in Bulabulin manned by 19 Battalion was attacked and dislodged by Boko Haram.

“One Captain and over 50 soldiers are trapped in that forest, Soldiers are dying of starvation in that bush.

“Some of them returned to Maiduguri, but the majority of them are still trying to find their way back to town but they are tired, hungry and abandoned.

“The painful part is that the heat in Borno state at the moment is so much. Anyone left in the forest might die. To make matters worse, our superiors in Maiduguri are not bothered. They have refused to send help to those out there to rescue them,” the source said

Thousands have been killed and millions displaced in Northeastern Nigeria, by Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province.

The Nigerian military has frequently claimed that the rebellion had been largely overthrown and continually underplays any losses.

Scores of soldiers and officers have been reportedly killed since January 2021.

At least 25 soldiers were recently killed when a suicide bomber identified as Abdullah al-Ansari rammed an explosives-laden pick-up truck into a military caravan during a clash in Goniri, a boarder community between Yobe and Borno states, killing many soldiers.

In February, about 20 soldiers were also killed in Malari, Borno State by the insurgents.

It was analyzed that the soldiers were on patrol to clear some Boko Haram elements in the area following a valid intelligence when they were attacked by the group.