More than 10 senior Nigerian Army officers, including a Brigadier-General, have been arrested and are telling the military hierarchy what they know about the recent take-over of Baga community in Borno State by the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

According to the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, the senior army officers are being investigated for allegedly shirking their responsibilities during the attack by the terrorists.

Among those arrested are Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff, Lt.-Colonel G.A. Suru, the Commanding Officer of 134 and 174 battalions, Lt.-Colonel Haruna and a certain Major Aliyu.

The two Nigerian Army battalions are under the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga attacked by the insurgents.

Addressing newsmen Friday in Abuja, Gen. Olukolade said that the arrested officers were being investigated because at the time of the attack on the MNJTF Headquarters in Baga, Brig.-Gen. Ransome-Kuti and his men were fully in charge of the military formation.

He said it was disappointing that the January 3, 2015 attack on Baga by suspected members of Boko Haram was not repelled by both battalions, despite having the necessary weapons to carry out the necessary operations.

Eyewitnesses said that the attack started around 5am when residents started hearing gunshots as the insurgents tried to gain entrance into the MNJTF premises.

Many civilians living in the barracks were said to have been killed during the attack.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah.