Military dismisses Boko Haram’s claim Of Chibok Girls Killed in Airstrikes

Military dismisses Boko Haram’s claim Of Chibok Girls Killed in Airstrikes

The Defence authorities have described the claim by the Boko Haram that some of the Chibok girls were killed in airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force as propaganda.

The acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday that the equipment used by the military in the bombing of the Sambisa forest had a high level of precision in hitting targets.

He said the insurgents were only making attempts weep up psychological trauma in the parents and citizenry against the military.

Abubakar added that the military was studying the latest video released by the insurgents to ascertain its authenticity.

He further stated that the same platforms were deployed by military in the operation against pipeline vandals at Arepo and other riverine communitiesof Ogun and Lagos states.

He said, “We are still assessing the video clip to confirm its authenticity or otherwise. This is an era of social media, anything can happen, anybody can crop up anything. However, we are very much alive to our responsibilities.

“The claim that the aerial bombardment was used to kill some of them is a complete propaganda; they are trying to buy time, or trying to put psychological trauma in Nigerians against the military.

“The equipment we are now using since the beginning of the new leadership of the military is a high level precision aerial equipment; just the way we did in Arepo in the Ogun, Lagos areas against vandals. The equipment was capable of the registering target and capable of hitting that target.

“The equipment was used to avoid unnecessary targets; to avoid collateral damage. So the issue of saying we are using bombs to kill Chibok girls is propaganda. They are trying to create psychological trauma in the parents and all Nigerians.”

Abubakar added that the decision on the exchange of the Chibok girls for Boka Haram suspects could only be taken by political leaders.

“We should not close our eyes on other people who have been rescued recently as a result of Operation Crack Down? The issue of exchange is purely for our respected political leaders. The military would continue with our operation.”