TheCable

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 28 task force brigade headquartered in Chibok, Borno state, have repelled an attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Askira, Askira/Uba local government area of the state.

The insurgents entered the town through Furfur around 4pm on Tuesday, and started shooting sporadically.

Military sources told TheCable that troops from the 28 task force battalion immediately swung into action, and recovered nine gun trucks from the insurgents.

“Troops were put on alert as soon information came in. The insurgents came with 11 gun trucks, but the troops repelled the attack and recovered nine of the gun trucks,” one of the sources said.

“There was also immediate air support from the air force troops who came with a warship helicopter. A number of the insurgents were neutralised, and others ran away.”

It is not clear yet if there were casualties on the side of the army, but sources said a soldier was wounded and has been taken to a hospital in Mubi, Adamawa state.

Troops, TheCable understands, have also been patrolling the area and normalcy has returned.

Mohammed Yerima, army spokesperson, said the insurgents have been “running for their lives in the forest due to overwhelming pressure and fire by advancing troops in the Timbuktu Triangle as well as the Sambisa forest and aerial bombardments by the air task force”.

In a statement on Thursday, he said the insurgents are desperate for food, drugs and logistics from soft targets for survival as their camps, routes and enclaves have been destroyed, blocked and manned by troops.

“In another development, on Tuesday, 9 February, 2021, members of BHTs/ ISWAP criminals mounted on 8 Gun Trucks, motorbikes and foot soldiers attacked own troops of 3 battalion deployed in Rann, Kala Balge local government of Borno state. The troops held their ground and instantly destroyed one BHTs gun truck,” he said.

“With swift air support during the attack, the terrorists lost initiative and had to scamper for safety due to heavy aerial bombardments while additional four BHTs gun trucks were completely destroyed as several of their members were killed while others fled with fatal gunshot wounds. The situation within the Rann general area is under control by own troops and members of the community are going about their normal activities.”