The Nigerian Army says it has recovered the bodies of all the soldiers killed during an attack on three military bases in Metele, Borno State.
The army stated this in its Twitter handle on Tuesday, following reports that the bodies of the slain soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force are yet to be evacuated.
It said, “For the avoidance of doubt, immediately after the attack, reinforcement was sent to the location. Thereafter, a special search and rescue team led by a senior military officer was constituted and equally despatched.
“The team worked tirelessly, searching all the nooks and crannies of the general area and have evacuated all the gallant troops that paid the supreme price in defence of their fatherland.”
The clarification by the military authorities comes about two weeks after the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter group, killed dozens of soldiers in Metele, a remote village near the border with the Niger Republic.
But the army regretted that some media houses “have discarded the ethics of their noble profession through the hasty publication of unverified information.”
It, however, urged media practitioners to ensure correct and balanced reportage, especially when reporting issues regarding military operations.
It added, “All print and electronic (online) newspapers, as well as social media forums and blogs, are advised to double-check their information before publishing.
“This is because publishing false, sensational news is inimical to national security and could also cause panic, bitterness and disunity among the citizenry.”
