Fresh allegations have emerged in the wake of deadly Boko Haram attacks on two military formations in Yobe State, with unnamed military sources claiming that senior Army authorities have launched a clampdown on personnel accused of leaking operational failures to the media.
The claims followed reports that about 36 soldiers and mobile police officers were killed during coordinated assaults in Gujba Local Government Area, where insurgents allegedly struck the Theatre Training Centre in Buniyadi and the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari between midnight and the early hours of Friday.
Both locations are within the hometown of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.
According to military insiders who spoke to SaharaReporters, the publication of the incident reportedly angered top security officials in Abuja. One source alleged that a commander received a phone call shortly after the story broke, reportedly linked to the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
“The call came almost immediately after the report was published. They were unhappy that details of the attack got to the media so quickly,” the source claimed.
The source further alleged that commanders were directed to restrict public disclosure of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacks ahead of the 2027 general elections, suggesting that such incidents were considered politically sensitive under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“We were told that going forward, information about Boko Haram or ISWAP attacks should not be released until after the 2027 elections,” the source alleged, adding that authorities believe such reports damage the image of the government and the military.
The claims also included allegations that soldiers were warned against speaking to journalists, with threats of disciplinary action reportedly issued to personnel suspected of media contact.
“Commanders warned that anyone caught speaking to the press would face serious consequences. People are scared of being singled out,” another source alleged.
The military has not officially confirmed these claims.
Earlier reports indicated that insurgents launched simultaneous midnight attacks on the two Yobe military facilities. A surviving soldier described the assault as sudden and coordinated, saying attackers struck both locations almost at the same time.
At the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari, the soldier said three personnel were killed during the raid, which began around 1:00 a.m.
Another source described the incident as one of the deadliest recent attacks in the area, noting that troops attempted to mobilise reinforcement but were overwhelmed by the simultaneous offensives.
The Theatre Training Centre in Buniyadi reportedly suffered the highest casualties, with sources claiming that 17 mobile police trainees were killed, alongside 10 soldiers attached to the training programme and six permanently deployed personnel, bringing the total alleged death toll to at least 36 across both locations.
Authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive public update on the incident or respond to the allegations made by the military sources.
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