JTF looses Officer in Boko Haram Crack Down

Nigeria’s anti-terrorist Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and a stronghold of the militant Boko Haram sect, yesterday lost another officer in an encounter with members of the extremist Islamist group.

Two sources who demanded anonymity disclosed the development to SaharaReporters. One source revealed that the army officer, Lieutenant Haggai Bitrus, died when the Islamist group launched a surprise attack on JTF operatives. The late lieutenant was described as an indigene of Plateau State.

“There are so many things happening now that Nigerians are not being told,” said the source, himself a military officer. “We have lost yet another officer in the person of Lieutenant Haggai Bitrus to these Boko Haram elements. His parents have been informed. The situation is bad. Just last week we lost some soldiers too.”

The military officer revealed that the JTF was carrying out serious operations against Boko Haram targets, but he added that the group was resilient and was carrying out sporadic guerrilla-style assaults on JTF fighters as well.

Another source, who said that the deceased lieutenant was his relation, described the officer’s death as a shocking development. “All the family was shocked when we received the sad news,” he said. - saharareporters