BEVERLY HILLS, January 11, (THEWILL) – Members of the Boko Haram insurgent group are reportedly holding a soldier hostage along the Lake Chad Basin.
This was revealed by Ahmad Salkida, a journalist known to have access to the leadership of the sect.
Salkida, quoting a source ‘that is conversant with the ongoing war’ revealed that contrary to claims by the army, the insurgents have not been defeated.
The journalist added that although the identity of the soldier in question is yet to be ascertained, soldiers are said to be burning down inhabited villages in the area in search of their abducted colleague.
“A source that is conversant with the ongoing war in the #LakeChad island villages, #ISWAP (Boko Haram)’s stronghold claimed; ‘it is not true the group suffered defeat,’ insisting they have repelled attacks in the forest of metele and have abducted and now holding one soldier captive,” he wrote on his Twitter handle @ContactSalkida.
“If this is confirmed, it’s the first time #ISWAP will take a soldier captive.
“The source did not reveal the identity of this soldier, but claimed ‘soldiers are burning down inhabitated villages,’ confirming military statements of intense attacks tagged, Operation Deep Punch.”
The Army is yet to respond to the claims.