The Defence Headquarters has dismissed Boko Haram’s claim for killing dozens of rice farmers in Saturday’s attack on Zabarmari in Borno State.
Defence spokesman, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche spoke Thursday while giving an update on the operations of the armed forces between November 26 and December 2 on Thursday in Abuja.
The Herald had reported that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau claimed that the attack was a reprisal against the community members for handing a member of the sect over to the Nigerian military.
He warned that the group would go after anyone found collaborating with the military to expose the sect’s movements and other activities.
Enenche said that the Boko Haram leader’s claim was only to instill fear in the minds of the public and deter them from giving vital information to the military.
He disclosed that one of the survivors told the military that Boko Haram called a meeting with the farmers the same day they killed them.
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“The truth is that whenever they are losing ground as a result of the military activities, this is what they resort to.
“It is a fallacy because we killed one of them and that the farmers gave information about them, but the likelihood is wickedness.
“They want to use that to instill fear in the minds of the people because they have seen the governor trying to make sure that people return to their homes,” Enenche said.
Enenche said the claim was the usual propaganda of the terrorist, adding that it is one of their major weapons.
“Our message here to the general public is that they should not be discouraged and that we are moving forward and with your cooperation we are going to end this menace,” he said.
Enenche said the military had sustained its onslaught against the terrorists through both ground and air offensives across the theatre of operation.
He said the troops had raided some of the identified hideouts of the terrorists killing scores during the week and recovered cache of arms and ammunition.