Reports of fresh mass abductions in Borno State by the
extremist Boko Haram sect last week predictably jolted a
world still distraught by the kidnapping of more than 200
school girls by the same terrorist group from the same state.
While the girls remain in captivity four months later,
widespread news reports said between Sunday and Friday
about 100 young men were abducted from Doron Baga, near
Lake Chad. Subsequent reports claimed the kidnapped men were rescued by Chadian forces.
The news stories were largely untrue, extensive investigation
by PREMIUM TIMES has shown.
News of the latest kidnappings originated mainly from major
international news wires- Reuters, Associated Press and
Bloomberg.
They three news organizations– all based in the United
States– quoted unnamed security officials, residents and local
vigilante groups in Doron Baga, the scene of a deadly clash
between the Nigerian military and members of the Boko
Haram sect.
Reuters said “dozens” of boys and men were driven away in
trucks on the night of Friday, August 15, after their captors
overpowered local vigilantes who had no military support.
The Associated Press said exactly 100 people were abducted
but later freed by the Chadian forces, quoting a Nigerian
security official and a local self-vigilante member.
The AP said the attacks occurred Sunday, August 10, five
days earlier than Reuters reported.
A member of the local vigilante in Doron Baga was quoted as
saying that 20 women and about 70 young men were forced
to board speed boats in Lake Chad.
Another news agency, Bloomberg, also reported that 100
people were kidnapped from the same community; but said
the event happened on Thursday, a day earlier.
The captives were boys and young men not women as AP
reported.
The report said 10 people died amid fears the abducted men
might be forced to join and fight for Boko Haram.
The three news stories, syndicated by hundreds of news
organizations around the world, apparently reported what
appears the same attack on the same community — Doro
Baga. But the reports cited different dates, numbers and those
involved.
Reuters’ version of the event was reported by organizations
including the UK Guardian, Aljazeera, Fox among many others.
Buzzfeed and others quoted Bloomberg while AP was
referenced by several others including Yahoo news and Israel’s
Hareetz newspaper.
All quoted local vigilante members, residents and unnamed
security officials. The military was quoted as having declined
comments.
As of Sunday, the Nigerian military maintains that position-
refusing to confirm any report of kidnappings officially.
“The Multinational Joint Task Force is operating around the
Lake Chad Basin, Doron Baga inclusive. I cannot confirm any
abductions,” defence spokesperson, Chris Olukolade tweeted
August 17.
PREMIUM TIMS has spoken to three soldiers- very reliable
contacts – stationed in Borno State, who were involved in the
fight against Boko Haram that Wednesday night in Doron
Baga.
Villagers in Doron Baga also told some of our sources they
were not aware men were abducted from their community.
A senior military official in Abuja also spoke to PREMIUM
TIMES about the events of that night.
They all denied that people were abducted.
One soldier, who is especially critical of the Nigerian military
authorities, said the clash was one of the few the military
wholly defeated the insurgents.
“That night we were able to fight Boko Haram off,” said the
soldier on condition of anonymity since he is not authorised to
speak to the media. “They started by opening fire on us. No
soldier was shot because we fought them.”
Those interviewed admitted some civilians were killed by stray
bullets and many of the militants too.
The soldiers said their performance was so impressive they
were rewarded by the commanding officer. “We fought them
this time that our commander gave us welfare for a job well-
done,” he said.
The soldiers said they were notified by Boko Haram days
ahead of the attack.
In a typical display of bravado against a military that has
suffered repeated losses in their hands, Boko Haram had
dispatched a letter intimating the troops they would be
storming Doron Baga to retrieve their wives.
“What happened was that Boko Haram sent us a letter that
they are coming to pick their wives. Some of the men here left
their wives to go and join Boko Haram,” one soldier said.
The insurgents arrived as scheduled, but this time the soldiers
were “alert”, one source said.
“We did not even allow them deep into where civilians were,”
the source said when questioned about the likelihood some
civilians were taken captives.
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