At least 15
Boko Haram fighters were killed in Borno on Friday as Nigerian troops of
Operation Lafiya Dole and Boko Haram terrorists engaged in prolonged fierce
battle in
Borno State.
Military
insiders told PREMIUM TIMES the battle ensued at 6 a.m this morning and did not
end until after 9 a.m.
Our sources
said the battle began when fighters of the terror group launched a surprise
attack on troops location in Rann, in northern Borno, shooting sporadically.
Troops from 3
Battalion and 112 Task Force Battalion are stationed in the area, our sources
said.
The soldiers
responded promptly, killing an unknown number of the terrorists, and wounding
several others.
The battle
raged for over two hours, and when the dust settled, several terrorists were
found dead.
One of our
sources said more than 15 of the Boko Haram fighters were killed in action.
Another said
the figure was much higher, saying many other terrorists escaped from the scene
with gunshot wounds.
Both sources
however said four Nigerian soldiers were wounded in action, adding that
authorities had since contacted the nearby 22 Brigade to send air ambulance to
evacuate a critically injured soldier.
Our sources
gave arms and ammunition recovered from the terrorists to include two AK47
rifles, four FN rifles, one M21 rifle, 110 X 7.62MM NATO ammunition, 20 X
7.62MM special,, 40 X M21 rounds, 4 X FN extra magazine and two locally made
explosives.
Friday’s
battle is the first since the military overpowered and chased the Boko Haram
sect from the dreaded Sambisa Forest, a fortress from where the group launched
attacks on Nigeria for years.
It also came a
day after the leader of the terror sect, Abubakar Shekau, appeared in a new
video, claiming his group had not been defeated.
The Army
immediately shot back, saying the video by Mr. Shekau was a piece of propaganda
that should be disregarded.
Premium Times
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