Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed has formally confirmed the attack on a military base in Kaduna State.
The minister said though the incident was widely reported across media platforms, the press however failed to report the swift response by the military as well as the casualty suffered by the bandits.
At least 11 soldiers were killed on Sunday in Kaduna State, when terrorists attacked a military base at the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway.
Vehicles and three Armoured Personnel Carriers were equally reported to have been burnt during the suspected ambush.
Soldiers were said to have intercepted some cattle rustlers along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway but were overwhelmed when the terrorists regrouped for an onslaught.
“Yes, there was an attack on a military base in Kaduna State but what was not reported was the very timely and efficient manner it was repelled, and the huge casualty suffered by the bandits/terrorists,” Lai said in response to questions by State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
“I also have a video of the area interdiction by the military.
“I keep saying that this is an asymmetrical war in which we are not in liberty only to tell you how in details, how the camps of the bandits are being decimated daily.
“It is a war of attrition, but our military is living to the billing, our military is working day and night to ensure that the terrorists are neutralized.’’
Lai however promised that government will continue to give information on the progress being made in the fight against the terrorism; stressing that the federal government is on top of the matter.
“‘While government is fighting terrorists, the oxygen required is what is being provided daily today, which is they want to occupy the front page of every paper, they want to carry out spectacular attacks even when they are down,” the minister said.
“This is where I think we also seek your support in understanding the mentality of terrorists, that even when they are dying, they will look for the soft underbelly that will keep them relevant, and enable them to get more money from their sponsors, more support from their sponsors.
“But clearly the last three, four, five days, the military recorded massive victories against terrorists and bandits, either in the North East or in the Kaduna, Niger axis.”
