BORNO: ‘They Withdrew In Disarray Due To Superior Firepower From Troops’ — Army Reacts To Boko Haram Attack On Community

Scores of Boko Haram insurgents have been killed by troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in a gunfight that ensued after the terrorists attempted to overrun Kala Balge, a border town in Borno state.

Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a press statement issued on Saturday.

He said the insurgents had infiltrated the border community on gun trucks and motorcycles on Friday, December 3, 2021.

According to him “insurgents attacked troops deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) Rann, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon. Troops gallantly engaged the maurading terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their mission and withdrew in disarray.

“In the fierce battle for Kala Balge, troops defended the town and neutralized 26 BH/ISWAP terrorists. The gallant troops also captured terrorists’ combat vehicles, 18 AK 47 rifles and one M-21 rifle with large quantity of ammunition. Several other equipment were also destroyed by troops,” he added.

The army spokesman further disclosed that two officers and five soldiers were killed by the insurgents adding that three personnel who sustained gunshot wounds are currently receiving medical attention.

The attack came barely a week after the insurgents attempted to infiltrate a military base in Gajiram Nganzai Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, the Borno Police Command said a 6-month-old baby was injured when ISWAP terrotists fired five mortar bombs into Maiduguri on Saturday.

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Abdul Umar said the terrorists fired the bombs from the outskirt of Ngomari Old Airport, behind Borno State University.

He said that the mortars landed in different locations within the city causing minor damages. 

The CP said the first bomb landed inside a house belonging to one Ibrahim Abba-Fori, burning down a Honda Civic car while 

another destroyed a room in Alhaji Bukar Modu-Kullima house and injured the 6-month-old baby, Fatima Alhaji-Bukar.

“Another one landed at Gambari Njimtilo Ward near the house of Ahmed Yahaya, where the fence of the house was destroyed.

“The last  explosive landed in a farm at Shuwarin Atom Village,” he said.

Umar explained that the 6-month-old victim was treated for minor injuries at the Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital and discharged.

No life was lost in the attack, the CP said, adding that more police and military personnel had been deployed to the outskirt of Maiduguri for monitoring and patrols.

He urged residents to be on alert and report any suspected activities that would be detrimental to peace while assuring them of the total readiness of security agencies to protect lives and properties in the state.