TheCable

Soldiers of the Nigerian army and air force in operation Tura Takaibango have repelled an attack on a military base in Marte, an area in Borno state close to the Lake Chad region. 

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents had moved into Marte Friday night to attack the military base, a source told TheCable. 

“The troops already saw them but they pretended as though they were not on alert so they could lay an ambush on the enemy,” the source said. 

“The moment they came in close on Saturday, they ran into our ambush and we opened fire on them.” 

Bernard Onyeuko, acting director of the defence media operations who confirmed the development, said the troops recorded success in the operation. 

“Troops of Operation Tura Takaibango in conjunction with the air task force in operation Lafiya Dole have effectively destroyed 7 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists’ gun trucks and decimated several unconfirmed number of the terrorists when they attempted to attack their location at the outskirts of Marte in Marte local government area of Borno state,” he said. 

“The gallant troops, based on reliable information about the attack, had positioned themselves in an ambush site where they tactically withdrew to, and awaited the arrival of the terrorists before they opened fire which led to fierce battle that resulted in the successes recorded as indicated above.”

He added that the troops are in pursuit of the fleeing insurgents.