JTF Denies Abduction Of Soldiers By Boko Haram In Yobe

jtf_squadThe Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe has denied media reports that any of its troops was captured by suspected insurgents in the state.

Refuting the reports, spokesperson of the Yobe JTF, Eli Lazarus, in a statement said there was no attack in Potiskum late on Thursday.

“However, in the early hours of Friday 28 June, 2013, suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked a JTF checkpoint located in Dogon-Kukah village in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.

“The insurgents took away a Police Hilux van which was conveying items meant for use by the service. None of the JTF soldiers involved in the encounter was abducted by any terrorist group, else the terrorists would be the first to tell such a story to the world,” Mr. Lazarus said.

“Troops were sent out to reinforce the checkpoint. Consequently, a pursuit was conducted to trail the fleeing terrorists. Men of the JTF trailed the insurgents and recovered the stolen Police vehicle, the items contained therein, one of the terrorist’s hilux vehicles, arms and ammunitions amongst several other items,” he added.

Also debunking the report that the deployment of aircraft from Borno to Yobe was used to search for the abducted soldiers, Mr. Lazarus said that “on the issue of the aircraft noticed hovering in the skies of the state capital, Damaturu, it was on a routine aerial surveillance.”