The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has shed light on the circumstances that led to the abandonment of two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which were recently seen being destroyed by terrorists in Zamfara State in a viral video. The incident occurred during a mission by troops of Operation Hadarin Daji on August 29, aimed at dislodging a terror gathering at Kwashabawa Village in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, the MRAP vehicles became immobilized due to the swampy terrain, exacerbated by heavy rains, as the troops attempted to outflank the terrorists. Despite efforts to extricate the vehicles, the situation became untenable when the terrorists, aware of the troops’ predicament, massed up against them.
In response, the troops made the tactical decision to demobilize the MRAPs, rendering them unusable to prevent the terrorists from exploiting the vehicles after their abandonment. Buba emphasized that these challenging circumstances illustrate how weather and terrain can significantly impact ground operations.
Buba also addressed another viral video, purportedly showing a mass killing of villagers in Sokoto State. He clarified that the video, which depicted civilians being killed and buried in a mass grave, did not originate from Nigeria but from a nearby African country facing similar terrorism issues. He warned that the video was part of a disinformation campaign by terrorists to undermine public confidence in the military’s efforts and to mask their own weaknesses.
The DHQ urged the public to be cautious of misinformation and fake news propagated by terrorists as part of their psychological warfare tactics. Despite such challenges, Buba assured that the armed forces remain committed to maintaining operational flexibility and achieving their strategic objectives in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
