Nigerians Demand ‘Bring Back Our Soldiers’ After B’Haram Abducts 105 Troops #BringBackOurSoldiers

Nigerians have taken to social media to demand the release of some 105 troops believed to have been kidnapped by terror group Boko Haram. The soldiers went missing during a battle against the militants in Gudunbali, Borno state, on 18 November.

At least 105 soldiers out of 157, including their commanding officer, went missing after being attacked by the insurgents, The Premium Times reported. The newspaper quoted one source as saying that the militants also captured a T-72 tank and several artillery weapons from the unit.

Following the news of the suspected abduction, dozens of Nigerians took to social media to demand the soldiers’ release under the hashtag #BringBackOurSoldiers, which echoes the similar #BringBackourGirls online campaign launched in April after some 219 girls were abducted by the Boko Haram while they were attending a school in Chibok, a remote village in Borno.

Adamawa, Yobe and Borno ? and northern Cameroon, with coordinated bombings also occurring in other parts of Nigeria, as well as Chad and Niger. In recent months, Chad and Niger have declared a state of emergency in areas affected by Boko Haram attacks.

Read some of the tweets below…

Is it true that 150 soldiers are missing?? The girls are still not back so..#BringBackOurGirls and #BringBackOurSoldiers ????

— ?? ????? (@khal2m_ukay) November 19, 2015

#BringBackOurSoldiers is one Hash tag we must insist on! With no Iota of political slant! Those who have misguided brothers! Tell them!

— AnthonyEhilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) November 19, 2015

Why is @DefenceInfoNG quiet on this #BringBackOurSoldiers issue? We await an official statement on whether or not it is true.

— #TheExperience10 (@Alvinattor) November 19, 2015

Buhari should rather be Minister of Defence, not Petroleum. Our greatest problem now is INSECURITY, not crude oil. #BringBackOurSoldiers

— Lere Olayinka (@OlayinkaLere) November 19, 2015

APC and PMB now learning the hard way. It is not good to use sad news to win political points. #BringBackOurSoldiers

— The David (@klinRo) November 19, 2015

We won't stop talking until Buhari #BringBackOurSoldiers

— Numofagha Roland (@Roland_speaks) November 19, 2015

I have been here praying my heart out that the 105 missing soldiers story is false. I pray for good news by evening. #BringBackOurSoldiers

— Mr Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) November 19, 2015

105 Nigerian soldiers missing. I hope its a case of them abandoning their duties and fleeing rather than kidnap. #BringBackOurSoldiers

— The Chairman (@ebuka_akara) November 19, 2015