Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has decried the loss of three army commanding officers in the war against terrorists in Borno State within seven days.

The three officers were Major U.I. Mairiga, who headed the Mayenti Base; Lt-Col Umar Faruq, Commander of the Kukawa Base and 101 Brigade; and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga.

In a statement yesterday, HURIWA recalled that within the last three months, commanding officers stationed in Damasak, Kukawa and Bama had also been killed while defending their bases.

Findings showed that most of the deaths occurred during attacks on military bases or ambushes by insurgents during clearance operations.

The group carpeted the military’s handling of information on the casualties from the attacks on its facilities by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the military was spreading misinformation to Nigerians in an attempt to present a rosy picture of successes by the Army when in reality the terrorists were in resurgence and had killed many top ranking soldiers among dozens of junior ranks, women and children.

He said the terrorists were committing horrendous crimes against humanity and therefore the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) spokesman, who recently said the terrorists should be rehabilitated and reintegrated, “is guilty of indiscretion” and should be administratively sanctioned.

Onwubiko opposed any talk of rehabilitation for terrorists with blood in their hands, insisting that terrorists should be killed for their crimes against humanity.

According to the rights group, credible witnesses’ account, captured by highly credible media outfits reporting from the North-East, has reported that the Nigerian military lost at least three commanding officers in charge of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) following attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP at different locations within a seven-day period in Borno.

HURIWA lamented that even the remains of Brig-Gen. Uba, who was reportedly captured and executed by ISWAP, had yet to be recovered by the Army.

“Any nation’s Army that is not only losing junior soldiers but allowing terrorists to kill its top ranking military officers is a military in decline. We must be frank and tell ourselves the truth. The Federal Government must take steps to arrest the decline of the military and equip, as well as motivate soldiers to confront and defeat terrorists,” he said.

According to credible media accounts, the latest casualties bring to seven the number of commanding officers and one brigadier-general reportedly killed within the last three months.

Local and security observers say the recent attacks highlight the persistent threat posed by insurgents in Borno despite ongoing military operations aimed at degrading their capabilities.

HURIWA is, therefore, miffed that the military’s hierarchy could authorise the dissemination of fake news to misinform Nigerians and get Nigerians to believe that the casualty figures were not as bad as is being reported, even when the same military admitted that about 40 soldiers in Borno were killed.

“HURIWA is of the view that Nigeria is the only nation globally whose trained military are being slaughtered in huge numbers by Islamic terrorists. This is an inexcusable dereliction of duty by the military chiefs in Nigeria,” the group added.

Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has resorted to a sustained 10-day “prayers and fasting” to end the incessant massive kidnappings and terrorism that have claimed many lives and property across the state.

Accordingly, he called on Muslims to use the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan to intensify their prayers, particularly during the night prayers (Tahajjud) to end “the protracted insecurity” tormenting tens of thousands of residents in the state.

Zulum, who is in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, said he also led other Muslim ummah to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in a special prayer session for lasting peace in the state and Nigeria at large.

In a statement released yesterday in Maiduguri by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor said: “The recent coordinated attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists should not in any way dampen the spirit of resilience and unity of purpose to effectively confront the common enemy.

“As we usher in the last 10 days of the Holy month of Ramadan, let’s intensify our prayers to the Almighty God and beseech Him, through all other acts of worship, to attract His mercies, blessings and rewards in heaven.”

Beyond the 10-day prayers and fasting, the governor added: “This is a month of prayers and supplications; let us all renew our faith in the wake of the recent attacks on our communities. I will also participate in special prayers with fellow Muslims in the holy land for an end to this protracted conflict.

“I also want to call on the Christian community, also observing the Lenten season, to join in the special prayers to end this madness of killings and abductions.

“The renewed attacks should be a unifying critical factor in confronting the common enemy,” he said, noting that it is a temporary eclipse, when the people will emerge victorious by the grace of God.

While condoling with all those that lost their loved ones in the recent attacks, Zulum reassured that the state government would continue to provide all the necessary support to the military and other security agencies, so as to end the menaces of the 16-year Boko Haram terrorism that had continued to claim more lives and property in the state.