The Nigerian Army on Tuesday revealed it had evacuated the bodies of all the soldiers killed during a Boko Haram attack on three military bases in Metele, Borno State.
The army stated this in a statement sent to okaynews.com, following reports that the bodies of the slain soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were yet to be evacuated.
The army said in a statement, “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 despatched.
“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.”
The statement added, “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.”
