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2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by dustydee: 7:30am On Mar 13, 2015 |
In a communication glitch, two South African mercenaries assisting Nigeria in the war against Boko Haram were on Monday killed in error by the military in Bama, Borno State. A military contractor, Leon Mare Lotz, and his driver, whose name was given simply as Nangombe, were shot dead when a convoy in which they were travelling was mistaken for that of Boko Haram insurgents. The fatal shooting took place in “pitch dark,” Reuters reported on Thursday. Text messages to the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, were not responded to at press time. Although military sources who spoke with Agence France Presse (AFP) refrained from giving the name of the military contractor, an Afrikaner website called Netwerk 24 gave the names of the victims on Thursday. It also quoted the widow, Almari, as saying: ““I just know Leon was killed. I know that he went to Nigeria with his eyes wide open and was aware that it was a dangerous operation.” The widow was said to have added: “He was with some of his brothers-in-arms who have walked a path with him for many years.” A military officer, who AFP said requested anonymity, confirmed the account, describing the death as “friendly fire”. It said that there was no immediate response from the Federal Government when contacted by AFP about the claims of foreign mercenaries assisting the operation. Two companies were involved in the training but he did not identify the firms or indicate the trainers’ nationalities or numbers. Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga, spokesman for the South African defence department, said he could not confirm Lotz’s death. “What I know is from the press but (he’s) not a serving member of the SANDF (South African National Defence Force,” he said, adding that Lotz may have previously been with the military. Netwerk 24 attributed the killing to a “communication problem between Nigerian soldiers and the South African trainers who help them train.” It said that the 59-year-old Lotz was a former Koevoetlid and experienced private military contractor. The driver, an Ovambo also died “instantly.” The shots were said to have been fired by a “Nigerian T72 tank,” while the South Africans were said to have been in a “Reva vehicle.” It quoted Nigerian military sources as saying that “faulty radio communication contributed to the possible misunderstanding,” and that the assumption was that “a directory with the Revas should move to show them where to go.” The incident was meant to be a surprise attack on Boko Haram strongholds, the report added. Lotz and Nangombe were said to have been in the first vehicle. It said: “The vehicle for the tanks moved past when the Nigerian soldiers opened fire on them. Two shots of the tank hit it, while those and a second Reva was shot full of bullet holes AK47.” The South Africans were said to have been under a contract with the Federal Government to provide more mobility to give the Nigerian forces. “The guys deserve good and you can not blame the Nigerian contract was not attractive to them,” Netwerk 24 quoted one informed Beeld as saying, adding that the command group earned apparently N5,882,181.22, (R360 000) per month, while the more “junior” contractors earned about N2,941,090.61 (R180 000.) – Almari Lotz was quoted as saying on Thursday that her husband’s remains were expected in about two weeks in South Africa. Meanwhile, the family last Saturday held a memorial service at the Methodist Church in Port Edward. “Afterwards we will all at the ski-boat club, one of Leon’s favorite places to hang out,” she was quoted as saying. http://dailytimes.com.ng/boko-haram-mercenaries-killed-in-error/ 3 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by espn(m): 7:49am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Redoil:and what does apc have to do with dis post? Why not Just make comment that goes with post..lets learn please. Don't derail d thread. Mercenaries Killed in ERROR smh. Seun I advice we start scanning our birth certificate.. mental health check certificate before accepting registration. 80 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Adetula1(m): 7:53am On Mar 13, 2015 |
RIP. dying is part of the contract 5 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Agbawotosabi(m): 7:55am On Mar 13, 2015 |
With d power of God we shall win d war 3 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Nobody: 8:29am On Mar 13, 2015 |
RIP 2 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Vision4God: 8:50am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Comfort 2 d family. 3 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by ednut1(m): 8:58am On Mar 13, 2015 |
severally during d iraq invasion. usa nd uk were victims of friendly fire. Rip mercenary 8 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Nobody: 9:15am On Mar 13, 2015 |
1. why will the army fire on their own brand new acquired Reva MRAPs ? 2. Ak-47 bullet holes on an MRAP 3. They are not mercineries but staff of the company training our soldiers on the said Reva MRAP. Those two men died(RIP) but this story doesn't add up. 13 Likes 1 Share |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Nobody: 10:01am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Nigerian gods crying out for South African blood sacrifices and some dumb SAns willingly laying their life on their alters. How do you get killed by the same people you are suppose to train? True cluelessness and chaos! Stupidity kills. I hope they arrest his corpse when it docks into SA. The Ovambo guy is not South African but Namibia/Angolan. Well! That is that, SA government vindicated. 6 Likes 1 Share |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by lalasticlala(m): 11:23am On Mar 13, 2015 |
This is really pathetic RIP 4 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by MadCow1: 11:25am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Chai |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by RichDad1(m): 11:25am On Mar 13, 2015 |
RIP But seriously, if this can be happening to trained and soldiers, how many innocent civilians must have been killed? All I'll say is, incompetency, negligence and "I don't carerism" is synonymous with most of our leaders. 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Nobody: 11:25am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Redoil: Sigh 1.The source is pro-govt. 2.South African mercs are usually ex-members of their security forces....especially the special forces component.When South Africa was a racist state....they had a lot of experience fighting black liberation movements in hard terrain....eg Namibia and Angola. NA is good....but a bit of help from outside does not matter. 3.Friendly fire incidents happen in war. It is part of war. Sad....but true. Even the US Army has had friendly fire incidents.(Pat tillman the more famous example). 4 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by haibe(m): 11:25am On Mar 13, 2015 |
So sad. |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by ichidodo: 11:26am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Poor guys...In shoot outs friendly fire has always been a nag,we was on robbery heist with a fellow online gamer on GTA V,after that nefarious activity in that virtual world our gaming partner shot us in the back..the f**king bastard. 1 Like |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by missbehave247(m): 11:26am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Space booked |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Ikwokrikwo: 11:26am On Mar 13, 2015 |
If this is true, then they were shot by Hausa Fulani Islamic boko haram supporting moles in the Nigerian army. They don't want boko haram to end. I weep for the north! 1 Like |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by LewisO: 11:27am On Mar 13, 2015 |
[size=15pt] Blind and clueless Armies 1 Like |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by RichDad1(m): 11:27am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Redoil:When has APC become Reuters? Stop smoking that weed. 4 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by steppins: 11:27am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Error ke? Abeg, how do you kill someone in error? Something sounds fishy. |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Burger01(m): 11:28am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Killed in error. Everything is Error in this country. Jonathan is the greatest 'Error' of all. It's time to correct that error. 9 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by ElectronByte(m): 11:28am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Some people already attaching this to APC and Buhari. Don't worry, your bombshell remains just 15days. Me can't vote for a man that has virtually wasted 6 years of every Nigerian. 4 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Boss13: 11:28am On Mar 13, 2015 |
I thought they denied initially. Well we are an import driven economy. We import almost everything even women and drinking water, so it is not strange to import armies from other nations. grin I just hope we would be allowed to import a President from the US or China. The one we presently have has expired. To the dead. It is a pity. 5 Likes |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by ugosonic1: 11:28am On Mar 13, 2015 |
chai |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by ginawest(f): 11:28am On Mar 13, 2015 |
so so sad... 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Nobody: 11:29am On Mar 13, 2015 |
RIP to the dead. Unfortunately, they were collateral damage. |
Re: 2 South African Mercenaries Mistaken For Boko Haram Killed In Error by Nobody: 11:29am On Mar 13, 2015 |
Collateral damage is part of war. rip. |
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