How soldiers, Boko Haram fighters die in gun duel

Daily Trust learnt from credible sources that a serious battle ensued on Tuesday when Nigerian troops confronted dozens of ISWAP fighters who wanted to take over a military base in Magumeri town in northern part of Borno State.

Sources said the terrorists who had killed at least 9 soldiers were later subdued and more than 20 of them were killed following the arrival of troops from Maiduguri.

The terrorists had earlier went to the military base around 4 pm, Tuesday, in about ten gun trucks and succeeded in destroying parts of the facility.

A vigilante from Magumeri, Mohammed Ali, said, “They (terrorists) burnt three vehicles at the military base including an armoured tank and a caterpillar that was being used in digging trenches for protecting the area and other important places.”

A security source who does not want to be named, said, “They burnt down five utility vehicles and one Emrad bombresistant vehicle, carted away the ammunition in our facility and some gun trucks. They also destroyed some public facilities.”

“The whole military camp destroyed by the ISWAP. Two APCs, two trucks and a caterpillar excavator were destroyed. One ISWAP Hilux was destroyed but the terrorists also left with another Hilux loaded with foodstuff just supplied to the base,” another source said.

Magumeri had suffered several attacks of recent, including the destruction of the general hospital and secretariat in the area; as well as robbed the locals of their belongings.

About the same time, the terrorists reportedly killed some soldiers in a separate confrontation along Baga in Kukawa LGA in the shores of Lake Chad.

The deadly confrontation continued yesterday with sources saying the terrorists had attacked another military base in Gubio also in northern Borno at about 4 pm.

Details of the incident were still sketchy at the time of filing this report.