The Nigerian Army denies claims that the bodies of the slain soldiers in Borno state have not been evacuated days after the attack.
The Nigerian Army, late Tuesday, November 27, accused online news medium, Sahara Reporters, of carrying out a smear campaign against it in the heat of the attack on at least 100 soldiers by the Boko Haram insurgents.
The Nigerian Army urged the members of the public to discredit the news from the medium that the bodies of the murdered soldiers had not been evacuated days after the incident at Melete in Borno state.
In the statement, the Nigerian Army said it carried out a reinforcement to the location immediately after the attack and that a special search and rescue team led by a senior officer was constituted.
The team, the statement said, searched the entire location and evacuated all those who were killed in the attack
Read the full statement:
1. The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has once again been drawn to another false publication by an online newspaper (Sahara Reporters), alleging that the bodies of our gallant soldiers and members of Civilian Joint Task Force who lost their lives in the unfortunate Metele Attack are yet to be evacuated.
2. The general public is to please note that the information is despicably false and a calculated attempt to spread fake news aimed at discrediting and undermining the NA in the discharge of its constitutional roles. For the avoidance of doubt, immediately after the attack, reinforcement was sent to the location. Thereafter, a special search and rescue team led by a senior military officer was constituted and equally dispatched. The team worked tirelessly, searching all the nooks and crannies of the general area and have evacuated all the gallant troops that paid the supreme price in defence of their fatherland.
3. It is sad to note that in a bid to be seen as first to break news, some media houses have discarded the ethics of their noble profession through the hasty publication of unverified information. The NA would once again reiterate the need for correct and balanced reportage, especially when reporting issues regarding military operations. Furthermore, all print and electronic (online) newspapers, as well as social media forums and blogs, are advised to double-check their information before publishing. This is because publishing false, sensational news is inimical to national security and could also cause panic, bitterness and disunity among the citizenry.