Nigerian Army Hunts Its Own Soldiers Instead of Terrorists After Yobe Attack

The Nigerian Army has launched an internal probe panel to track down soldiers suspected of leaking details of a deadly Boko Haram attack in Yobe State. This move has triggered widespread criticism, with many accusing the military of targeting its own personnel instead of focusing on the terrorists responsible for the assault.

The criticism comes as security forces hunt for soldiers who spoke to the media, while at least 36 soldiers and police officers lost their lives in the coordinated attack. The incident has highlighted a deeply flawed priority system within Nigeria’s security architecture.

According to military sources, top commanders were furious that information about the insurgent assault reached the media so quickly. The attack involved two military facilities in Gujba Local Government Area, including the Theatre Training Centre in Buniyadi and the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari.

The search for the soldiers was reportedly set up immediately in response. One source alleged that the directive came from the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

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Shockingly, sources claim that troops have been ordered to hide all attack details from the public until after the 2027 elections, ostensibly because such reports damage the image of President Bola Tinubu’s government. A military source revealed that commanders warned any soldier found communicating with the media would face severe punishment and that personnel are now scared, believing they could be framed or targeted at any time.

While the army chases its own soldiers, survivors of the attacks have given horrific accounts of the terrorists. A soldier who survived the midnight assault told Sahara Reporters that his camp was invaded around 1:00 a.m., with insurgents attacking them and a neighboring camp simultaneously. Another military source described the night as “bloody,” confirming that while they wanted to reinforce their comrades, the terrorists struck them first.

Nigerians online argue that this obsession with internal tracking exposes a fatal weakness in the nation’s defense strategy, turning military intelligence inward against innocent personnel rather than outward against a deadly insurgency. As the North East continues to bleed, the nation is left wondering why the government is hunting its own soldiers instead of the terrorists spilling their blood.

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