…12 Soldiers, 4 Policemen, 4 Civilians Also Killed
…Military Confirms Attack
SAN FRANCISCO, July 05, (THEWILL) – Boko Haram terrorists Friday night in Damboa, a town in the southern part of Borno State, suffered a heavy casualty as they lost 50 of their gunmen to the attack on the town.
The insurgents, who stormed the town with about 200 of their gunmen, however succeeded in killing 12 soldiers, four policemen and four civilians during the attack.
The insurgents had suffered heavy defeat and recorded more casualties in recent attacks around Konduga and Damboa Local Government Areas, and had planned to overpower the military when they stormed Damboa with 200 members in an apparent revenge mission.
Local sources in the area told THEWILL that the Boko Haram gunmen initially had an advantage destroying the police station and some other buildings during which they killed some police officers, including the District Police Officer.
The insurgents however met their waterloo when the military engaged them in a counter-offensive during which over 50 terrorists were killed .
According to a local source, “About 200 heavy armed gunmen in Toyota Hilux vehicles attacked Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The militants who initially had an edge lost 50 of their 200 gunmen in the encounter when ground troops and the Air Force fighter jets engaged them.
“The incident took place on Friday at about 5:00pm when the insurgents with anti-aircraft guns, Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, Rocket Propelled Launchers stormed the town in what looks like a revenge mission targeted at both the Military and Police.”
A security source disclosed to THEWILL that four of the utility vehicles brought by the insurgents were captured as the highly battered terrorists were forced to scamper for safety.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, said there was an attack on Damboa by suspected terrorists on Friday. He was however unable to provide further details on the casualty figure.
But the Defence Headquarters, in a statement on Saturday by its Director of Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, confirmed that over 50 members of the Boko Haram sect were killed in the attack
.
“Over 50 terrorists died as troops repelled a daring attack on troops’ locations in Damboa, Borno State yesterday night. 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 while repelling the attack. 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 wounded are also receiving treatment in the military medical facility,” the statement said. Olukolade, in the same statement also said: “In another development, troops on patrol around Baga area have recovered explosives and rifles concealed in a truck loaded with fish and other commodities,” adding
“Four suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.”
Speaking further in the statement, Olukolade said: “At Konduga also in Borno State, a suicide bomber in a Golf car yesterday (Friday) crashed into a checkpoint killing himself, a policeman and three Vigilante Youth members.”
