Loss of soldiers in clashes won’t deter us -Army

The Nigerian Army, admitting yesterday that it lost 11 of its officials in the Thursday clash in Niger State, said such loss would not deter the Army from carrying out tasks assigned to it.
The General Officer Commanding One Division, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, who gave detail of the casualty figure from the clash with villagers in Kpaidna, Legbe-dagma, Bambe, Kopa, Lunku and surrounding villages in Bosso local government area of Niger state, said seven armed bandits were also killed, and assured, “Despite the heavy casualties suffered, the Nigerian Army will not relent in its effort in ensuring the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians.”
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Oyebade said one official and a second lieutenant were still missing.
He said over 50 persons were arrested during the cordon and search in the villages by the soldiers.
Major General Oyebade who later visited the wives, children and relations of the officers who lost their lives, expressed sadness over the losses and assured them that their husbands would not die in vain.
Meanwhile the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism Mr Jonathan Vatsa has called on the people of the state to be calm as the security agencies tried to bring normalcy to the affected communities.
Mr Vatsa in a statement yesterday in Minna, maintained that the government of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello placed utmost premium on the security of lives and properties.