Strong indications have emerged that Islamic militants from some North African international locations are coordinating assaults in opposition to the Nigerian army within the North Eastern a part of the nation.
A army supply said that safety operatives got here to this conclusion once they found that many Arabs of Shuwa descent and fair-skinned folks from Mauritania, Sudan, Somalia, Algeria and Niger, had been amongst these whose our bodies had been discovered after among the latest encounters with the militants.
The supply stated, "We strongly imagine that the overseas militants underneath the Al-Qaeda within the Islamic Maghreb are coordinating the assaults in opposition to our males within the troubled North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa."
"We have seen fairs-skinned corpses and people of Arabs of Shuwa descent. We imagine they're from international locations like Algeria, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan and Somalia. It could be very potential they're serving to the Nigerian insurgents like these in Boko Haram in coordinating assaults in opposition to our males."
It was learnt that there have been robust emotions within the army that the militants who nonetheless have a number of bases within the thick forests of the northern a part of Borno State, had been amongst these chased out of Mali by the French and the West African troops led by Nigeria.
The militants are stated be be armed with Rocket Propelled Grenades and General Purpose Machine Guns that are extra refined than the AK 47 utilized by the Nigerian troops.
Another safety supply informed our said the RPG launched to the Nigerian troops had been out of date in comparison with these being wielded by the militants from North Africa and their Boko Haram allies.
Findings indicated that the extent of preparedness and calibre of arms in possession of the militants had been accountable for 'the excessive casualty on the Nigerian facet'.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, had said throughout a press convention per week in the past that the Army misplaced 15 troopers with 9 others lacking through the assault by militants within the Kasiya Forest in Ngazai Local Government Area of Borno State.
Last Sunday and Monday morning, the insurgents launched one other rounds of assaults on the Nigerian troops, necessitating the deployment of extra fighter jets within the troubled states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
It was learnt that the fighter jets instantly commenced monitoring the actions of the insurgents in the three states that are underneath emergency rule.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, is said to be personally supervising the usage of fighter jets and the Air Force personnel supporting the Army within the struggle in opposition to the insurgents.
It was additionally gathered main offensive deliberate by the Army with aerial again up from the Air Force resulted within the killing of a superb variety of the insurgents on Monday night time.
The Director of Air Information, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, confirmed the deployment of Alpha jets in addition to M1, 35 and M1,34 helicopters within the operational areas.
Anas additionally confirmed that Badeh was in Maiduguri to oversee the newest deployment and the personnel of the Air Force aiding the the Army within the marketing campaign in opposition to terrorism.
He stated: "It is true; we now have deployed M1, 35 and M1,34 helicopters and Alpha jet plane. They are there to assist the Nigerian Army in curbing the safety state of affairs within the North-East."
"I can't provide the precise quantity however the determine is sufficient to carry out the position for which they had been deployed. I do know that previously 9 months, we now have at all times had NAF helicopters there; they're engaged in patrol functions, medical providers, medical evacuation and in addition offensive roles; that's, they're additionally used for assaults."
"In addition to that, the Air Force has deployed Alpha jets plane to take part within the operation. I may also affirm that the Chief of Air workers was in Maiduguri to watch the deployment and supervise our personnel who're concerned within the operation."