Spain condemns killing of Nigerian soldiers

The Spanish Government on Wednesday condemned the latest killing of several Nigerian soldiers in an attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
“The terrorist attack should not go unpunished and its perpetrators should be brought to justice,” the Spanish Government said in a statement issued by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Madrid.
The statement, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, condoled with the Nigerian Government and the families of the victims.
It expressed confidence in the Nigerian Government’s ability to confront activities of the terrorists, and to “instil a climate of religious tolerance and social peace” in its people for economic growth and democracy.
Earlier, on Wednesday in Abuja, the Army spokesman, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, confirmed to journalists that 16 soldiers were killed during a military operation in Borno on September 12.
Attahiru said: “On September 12, troops from 81 Battalion under 7 Division Nigeria Army, acting on intelligence report, gathered that the insurgents had regrouped at Kafiya forest in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno.
“Based on this report, our troops launched a deliberate attack and over 150 insurgents were killed; the formation lost an officer and 15 soldiers.”