Troops Kill 53 Terrorists As Bases Come Under Attack In Borno

Over 50 suspected members of a terrorists group, Boko Haram, have been killed by troops tackling insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, as they repelled a daring attack on their bases and police locations in Damboa, Borno State on Friday night.  

A statement by the spokesman for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, said that the terrorists had stormed the troops’ bases and police locations while most of the troops were out on patrol of surrounding villages. A total of five soldiers and a senior officer were also killed during the gun battle.

“A cordon and search of the locality is ongoing, while the bodies of the fallen soldiers have been recovered and deposited in the military morgue,” the statement read.

The wounded are also receiving treatment in the military medical facility.

In another development, troops on patrol around Baga area have recovered explosives and rifles concealed in a truck loaded with fish and other commodities.

Four suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

The statement further said that at Konduga, also in Borno State, a suicide bomber in a Golf car crashed into a checkpoint on Friday killing himself, a policeman and 3 Vigilante Youth members.

Earlier reports say the incident occurred near a mosque during Friday’s prayer session.

The suicide bomber detonated the bomb when the vigilante members stopped his vehicle for a search.

Members of the terrorist group have carried out series of attacks on churches, mosques, schools and villages in the northeast and military operations have continued in the region.