The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that the demobilization of two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in Zamfara State was due to their entrapment in swampy terrain, not because they were seized by bandits.
In a statement released on Monday, September 2, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained that the MRAPs became bogged down during a fighting patrol in Zurmi Local Government Area on August 29. Persistent rain had created swampy conditions, making it impossible for the troops to extricate the vehicles.
Maj-Gen. Buba dismissed viral claims by bandits that they had seized the MRAPs, calling such assertions an attempt to mislead the public. According to the statement, the troops demobilized the MRAPs to prevent them from being captured and used by terrorists after they were abandoned.
The statement detailed the events as follows: “On August 29, 2024, at approximately 1700 hrs, troops from OP HADARIN DAJI deployed at FOB Zurmi were engaged in a fighting patrol against terrorist elements at Kwashabawa Village. During the operation, two MRAPs got stuck in the swampy terrain. Despite efforts to recover them, the vehicles were ultimately demobilized to prevent them from being exploited by the terrorists.”
Additionally, the DHQ addressed misleading information in a trending video claiming mass killings by terrorists. Maj-Gen. Buba clarified that the incident depicted in the video occurred in a nearby African country, not in Nigeria, and emphasized that there were no abductions in Sokoto State as reported.
He urged the public to be cautious of terrorist propaganda and disinformation. “The armed forces remain committed to maintaining operational flexibility and achieving strategic objectives despite challenging conditions,” he concluded.
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