Boko Haram terrorists --executed an ambush on Nigerian Army personnel, resulting in the death of a lieutenant and two vigilante members in the Lake Chad area of Borno State.
Sources confirmed that the attack came after the military takeover of the Boko Haram enclave in Krenowa in the Marte Local Government Area, five days ago.
The military takeover of the enclave, Daily Trust reports, was part of efforts to advance their fight against the terrorists.
However, according to the source, “The soldiers who were from 50 Task Force Brigade came under heavy bombardment at Krenowa, forcing them to withdraw, abandoning 12 out of 15 motorbikes deployed for the operation.”
He said the soldiers numbering more than a hundred and equipped with several gun trucks and other equipment retreated to Marte town.
A soldier indicated that an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) tank was damaged in the attack which occurred around 1am while the driver escaped with a leg injury.
“We took the fight to the terrorists at their hideout when suddenly we came under fire that forced us to retreat. I believe they were hiding underground because there was no sign of them before the ambush. We took shelter at the headquarters of the 27 Task Force in Marte town,” the source narrated.
The source further disclosed that the corpse of the slain officer, a member of the civilian JTF and another vigilante member could not be recovered immediately due to the intensity of the insurgents’ firepower.
Efforts to reach the military high command for their reaction was not successful as calls to the mobile phone of the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba were not answered, according to Daily Trust.
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