OBASANJO RECOUNTS ENCOUNTER WITH BOKO-HARAM

 Son of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Lt Col Adeboye Obasanjo, an army engineer, yesterday told his visitors in hospital that he was shot and wounded during a fierce battle with Boko Hara...m militants.

Initial reports suggested that the former president’s son, along with other officers and men of the Nigerian Army, was ambushed and shot by Boko Haram militants in Bazza, northern Adamawa State.

But in his personal account of the incident, Lt Col Obasanjo told family friends and well-wishers who visited him at a hospital in Yola that he was wounded in a fierce gun battle with the insurgents.

“He told us that it was in a serious exchange of fire between his team and the militants that he and others were shot and wounded,” one of the visitors told Daily Trust in Yola.

“It was not an ambush, it was an open confrontation”, he said.

The source said the former president’s son was shot in his buttocks where he sustained a minor injury but is recovery very fast.

“He is walking confidently on his feet and is talking to us as if nothing happened to him,” the source said. “He is in high spirits and has expressed determination to return to the war zone”, he added.

The source said he may be discharged from hospital today, Wednesday, and flown to his base.
Officials of the health facility declined comments on the officer. Daily Trust learnt that Lt Col Obasanjo has been receiving visitors since his admission Monday.

Members of the family of Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Obasanjo’s personal friend, have been visiting him more regularly, Daily Trust learnt.

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa State Acting Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited him yesterday. The acting governor praised the sacrifice by Lt. Col Obasanjo and other soldiers fighting to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

Lt Col Obasanjo reportedly told Atiku that he was eager to return to the battle front.
The former vice president expressed happiness over his speedy recovery.
A source quoted Abubakar as telling Lt. Col Obasanjo that he was impressed to see him display the type of courage associated with his father.

“He was even marching before me even as he was recovering from gunshot wounds,” Atiku said.
Boko Haram insurgents injured the former president’s son along with some other soldiers on Monday in a fierce gun battle in Bazza, a few kilometres to Michika town, which alongside Gulak and Madagali have been under a firm control of the insurgents.