TheCable

Scores of “heavily-armed” insurgents using women and children as shields died on Sunday when they attacked Babangida in Yobe state, the Nigeria defence headquarters (DHQ) has said.

“Scores of heavily-armed terrorists using women and children as shield died on Sunday when they attacked Babangida in Yobe State While their action was being foiled by troops,” DHQ said on Monday via its Twitter handle @DefenceInfoNG.

“Over 10 rifles and weapon accessories as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition and some hand grenades were also recovered from the terrorists as some of them fled with gunshot wounds.”

However, it added that “one soldier and a vigilante member died, while five were wounded during the encounter”.

Boko Haram insurgents have recently stepped up their attacks, mostly through suicide bombing, in the northeast. To counter the attacks, President Muhammadu Buhari has moved the command centre of the Nigerian military from Abuja to Borno. He has  also had talks with neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon in a bid to stop cross-border insurgent attacks.

Over the weekend, he ordered the release of $21 million (out of the $100 million pledged by Nigeria) to the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNTJF).