Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria estimates Baga deaths at 150

Nigeria defence says the number of people who lost their lives in an assault by Boko Haram militants on the town of Baga last week was no more than 150. The defence ministry said this figure included "many of the terrorists" who had attacked the town in Borno state and faced resistance by troops.


Meanwhile local officials earlier estimated the number of deaths at as many as 2,000.

However, Nigeria has often been accused of underestimating casualty figures to downplay the threat of Boko Haram. 
 
The ministry denied the higher estimates for deaths at Baga, in north-east Nigeria, and tagged the report as "speculation and conjecture" and "exaggerated".

It said the army was taking "necessary actions" to restore law and order there, but gave few details about the operation to recapture the town from the Islamist insurgents. (BBC)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave your comment