The Nigerian military says it has been vindicated by the devastating attack on Baga community in Borno State by the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The military in a message posted late yesterday on its official website defenceinfo.mil.ng agreed with the United States and Amnesty International’s description of Boko Haram’s attack on Baga as the deadliest by Boko Haram since it launched the insurgency in 2009.

According to the military, “This interpretation of the recent terrorists attack on Baga is quite valid. You will recall that Military has maintained all through that the troops never engaged in any massacre in Baga as some activists and the Media alleged in 2013. We have been insisting that such viciousness and barbarism were more typical of the terrorists’ pattern of operation than the action of the troops.

“Unfortunately however some interest groups and terrorist sympathizers for whom it is more convenient continued to misinform the world, have kept attributing the evil to Nigerian troops. The attack on the town by the blood hounds and their activities since January 3rd, 2015 should convince well meaning people all over the world that Boko Haram is the evil all must collaborate to end rather than vilifying those working to check them.

“Those who have found it more convenient to insist on labeling the Nigerian Military with allegations of human rights abuse using Baga as a reference should note this development. Let us hope this will encourage them to begin placing blames where they belong. The priority of all our military action in this campaign has been the protection of our civilian population.”

•Photo shows the havoc wreaked at Baga during an earlier attack by Boko Haram.