TheCable

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked the office of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Damboa, Borno state.

The CJTF is a vigilante group created to help Nigerian troops in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

The group have been operating in Borno and other neighboring states.

Sources told TheCable that the Damboa office came under attack around 2am on Sunday.

Most of the operatives on duty were said to have escaped as the insurgents shoot sporadically.

Two operational vehicles belonging to the CJTF were also set ablaze.

The CJTF has continued to provide support for troops and especially in the Lake Chad region where the insurgents have their strongholds.

In July, the CJTF with troops of 195 battalion, sector one of operation Hadin Kai in a clearance operation in Muna area of Borno, had arrested a couple of Boko Haram logistics suppliers.

Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, had then said items recovered from the suspects include one hand grenade, one axe, one vehicle, five bicycles, two mobile phones (Techno and Infinix) and some quantity of petrol, oil and lubricant.

The attack on the CJTF base comes at the time the Nigerian troops are recording success in the fight against insurgency.

In the past few days, about 100 Boko Haram insurgents had surrendered to the troops.