18, feared killed as troops repel Boko Haram attacks

Troops of the Nigerian Army yesterday repelled a group of rampaging insurgents as they staged an attack on military locations in Borno State, killing 18, captured one and recovered different sophisticated weapons from the fleeing insurgents.

A statement from the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said the attack occurred at the military locations at Pulka and Bitta in the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

Usman said: “At the end of the debacle, two Boko Haram insurgents were feared killed while several others sustained gun shot injuries.”

The statement said the situation at Pulka was more devastating, as troops of 114 Task Force Battalion yesterday “came under three-pronged attack by Boko Haram terrorists fanning out of Sambisa Forest from Damboa, Tokumbere and Pulka axis.” ‬

The troops, who are said to be ready and vigilant, responded with more aggression, killing all the attackers and recovering the high calibre weapons the assailants brought for the operation.

The statement read in part: “Troops rose to the occasion by repelling the attacks and killing all the 16 attackers and captured one of them alive during the exploitation.

“The gallant troops also recovered 11 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), one Browning Machine Gun (BMG) and two Toyota Hilux vehicles.”

Usman further said no casualty was recorded on the side of the troops but for three soldiers that sustained minor injuries.