At least eight soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush
At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram ambush on Friday, sources said, highlighting the Islamist group’s capacity to strike despite government claims it is seriously weakened.
Troops heading to the town of Dikwa came under attack at about 9:00 am (0800 GMT) at Ajirin village, in the Mafa area, some 52 kilometres (32 miles) east of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.
“There was a heavy gunfight. At least eight troops have been confirmed killed and two others injured. Boko Haram also suffered losses,” a military source in Maiduguri told AFP.
“It was a surprise attack and this is what led to the casualty toll,” the source added on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to talk to the media.
A civilian vigilante involved in helping the military with security in the restive region confirmed the account but said as many as 10 soldiers may have been killed.
No one from army headquarters in Nigeria’s capital Abuja was immediately available when contacted by AFP.
Nigeria’s military and government have claimed repeatedly in recent months that Boko Haram, which is allied to the Islamic State group, is in disarray and nearly defeated.
The army has mounted a sustained counter-attack against the group in its Borno state stronghold of the Sambisa forest. In December, commanders said the rebels had been flushed out.
Sporadic attacks since then have been attributed to desperate Boko Haram remnants on the run.
Nevertheless, there have been a number of attacks on military and police targets in Borno and the neighbouring states of Yobe and Adamawa, as well as deadly suicide bombings.
Residents in the village of Kautikeri, in southern Borno state, said Boko Haram killed one person and abducted a seven-year-old boy from the neighbouring village of Kaumutaiyahi on Thursday.
The rebels looted food stores before setting fire to the village, which is some 15 kilometres from the town of Chibok, from where Boko Haram abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in April 2014.
Chibok is also near Boko Haram’s Sambisa forest camps. Thursday’s raid and recent attacks on the road between Damboa and Maiduguri have prompted speculation the militants are still in the area.
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10 Comments
Congratulations to Boko Haram for killing IPOB killers. God is our great Avenger. Again Congrats to Mumuhead Buhari brothers.
You talk without sense! Your fellow Nigerians just lost their lives defending your freedom,and you sit there in the comfort of your home, enjoying the freedom that these able soldiers just sacrificed their lives for you to have,without the requisite compassion, and you call yourself a human being?… I think you’re lower than a demon! What if this BH are allowed to go on rampage, don’t you realise by now, your so called IPOB members would be extinct from exis
Please give kudos to our gallant soldiers!… I’d blame the C-in C for not changing the present COAS; for how can he be losing our commanders like this without a corresponding change in leadership? … common sense require that a change of leadership must occur to finally deal a devastating blow on these inept rascals , It’s most embarrassing to the Nigerian Arm forces that we are losing our officers and men to these misfits like flies!
what is ur achievement in what u sends, but bear it in mind 1 finger while other go on you
Please, you guys need to ignore the idiot like him next time.
In other words, your enemy’s enemy is your friend? Now I know better. Get ready to be called “Boko Haram 2”.
Very sad, and may the souls of our fallen heroes rest in peace. Their deaths will never be in vain.
Amen!
The lies of Buhari’s government will continued to be ‘unbellyed’ by daily events. The military continue to lose out to ‘technically defeated’ Boko Haram anytime there is combat. Shameful!
It maynot be Boko Haram which according to the army and government sources has already been liqudated.
We will review and take appropriate action.