Over 30 members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect were killed Sunday morning in a gun battle with Nigerian troops assisted by local vigilantes.
Nigerian troops and the local vigilantes had laid ambush for the insurgents between the border villages of Kirchinga/Imirsa which came under Boko Haram attacks in recent times leading to the death of innocent residents.
A local vigilante operative who participated in the campaign told our reporter that following intelligence report about the movement of the Boko Haram insurgents, an ambush was laid which resulted in the killing of many Boko Haram members.
“Following information about the movements of the Boko Haram, we decided to lay ambush in the early hours of Sunday. Our efforts yielded results as we succeeded in killing over 30 of the insurgents after a fierce gun battle.
“We confiscated many weapons from the invading terrorists, including AK 47 assault rifles, bows and arrows and other dangerous weapons,” the source said.
The onslaught against the insurgents followed increased attacks on parts of Madagali Local Government of Adamawa State leading to the death of three soldiers and the abduction of one senior military officer and his operational vehicle.
A vigilante operative told our reporter that Boko Haram insurgents have disguised as local vigilante operatives and in the process, killed unsuspecting residents and soldiers.
“The insurgents who disguised as local vigilante mounted road blocks across the highway and pretended to be carrying out routine checks. The soldiers were lured into the booby trap of the insurgents who immediately swooped on them and killed three soldiers and abducted one of them,” the source said.
In a similar vein, reports from Kirchinga village in Madagali Local Government indicated that a fierce gun battle took place between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents who launched attack on the village on Saturday afternoon.
Confirming the incident, a member representing Madagali/Michika Federal constituency, Hon. Adamu Kamale called on the Federal government to deploy more troops to safeguard life and property.
Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow assured residents of the affected communities that the state government will continue to support the civilian JTF and local vigilante groups to fight the insurgents.
Efforts to reach the Army PRO for comments by the time of filing this report were abortive as his numbers were switched off.
…Army foils suicide attack in Borno
The Nigerian army foiled another suicide attack outside a military base in Maiduguri, Borno State and shot dead the suspect attempting to detonate explosives concealed in her handbag, military sources said.
The target was thought to be the Maimalari army barracks — the main military base in Maiduguri, which has been hit repeatedly in recent months by Boko Haram militants.
“Soldiers at Maimalari army barracks (Sunday morning) foiled a suicide attack by a female bomber,” said a member of civilian JTF.
The woman approached the barracks and headed towards the gates. Military guards at the gates shouted at her to stop for security checks but she ignored them and continued walking towards the gates, he said.
“She continued walking with her handbag slung on her shoulder, despite repeated shouts from the soldiers asking her to stop,” he added.
Boko Haram has intensified its use of multiple suicide bombers to inflict maximum casualties, with secondary explosions detonated as people rush to help victims of the initial blast.
At least 34 people were killed in a wave of attacks on Thursday night and Friday morning on the outskirts of Maiduguri, while 117 died last month in explosions in the Ajilari Cross area of the Borno State capital.
Of the six suicide attacks in Nigeria this month, four have been in Maiduguri, killing at least 48 and injuring 99.
The military source, who requested anonymity as he is not authorised to talk to the media, said the use of human bombs was a sign of the group’s desperation and frustration at the fight-back by troops.
“They are looking for every opportunity to hit back, which is why they have resorted to soft-target attacks on mosques and markets and such attacks on a military base is intended to show the terrorists are still strong,” the officer added.
12 killed by suicide bombers in Adamawa
No fewer than 12 people lost their lives in a suicide bomb attack on Dar village of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, residents and security sources disclosed.
Confirming the incident via telephone interview, former chairman of Madagali, Maina Ularamu, said the suicide bomb attack was launched on the area at about 8:30 pm Saturday.
He noted that sequel to the suicide bomb attack, a large number of suspected Boko Haram members had stormed the village, forcing residents to flee to nearby hills and bushes, making it impossible for the intruders to succeed in their mission.
According to him, two female suicide bombers who disguised as fleeing villagers detonated explosives in the bush where many people were hiding, killing 12 persons.
He added that injured victims had been taken to the hospital by police personnel.
Confirming the incident, public relations officer of the Adamawa State Police Command, DSP Othman Abubakar, said 11 people were killed in the attack while three houses were burnt by the insurgents.
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