The grim discovery was made after a daring rescue and recovery operation launched by the military to track down personnel missing after a Monday confrontation.
Initial intelligence suggested that the Commanding Officer and roughly 12 other soldiers were captured alive during an intense battle on Monday. However, high-ranking security sources have confirmed a more horrific outcome.
Upon reaching the site on Wednesday, troops discovered that the terrorists had summarily executed the captives.
According to a security source, the victims were found in a heart-wrenching state: Restrained: The soldiers were found with their hands tied, indicating they were defenseless at the time of their execution, Bodies Desecrated: Some remains were recovered from a nearby body of water where the insurgents had dumped them to hide the evidence of the massacre.
In addition to the soldiers, two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were also identified among the executed.
The ill-fated unit was reportedly advancing toward a notorious insurgent stronghold located between Damasak and Geidam.
It is believed that the terrorists had prior knowledge of the military's movement, allowing them to encircle the troops midway and open fire from multiple directions.
The recovery operation was not without further conflict. Insurgents reportedly hid in the surrounding bushes, waiting to attack the recovery team.
However, heavy reinforcements and the intervention of fighter jets eventually dislodged the terrorists, allowing the bodies to be airlifted to Maiduguri.
Despite this heavy loss, the Nigerian military has intensified its "clearance operations" within the Timbuktu Triangle and the Lake Chad region.
While the Army is yet to release an official statement identifying the fallen officers, the operation to neutralize the perpetrators in the Mandara Mountains continues.
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