3 soldiers, ‘many insurgents’ die in Borno clashes

Three Nigerian soldiers have been killed in two separate missions to repel Boko Haram attacks in Borno state, the defence headquarters has said.

According to a statement on its website, two soldiers died in an encounter with militants who were in the process of attacking engineers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) working to restore power to some parts of the northeastern state.

THe military said another soldier died when troops came under attack on a bridge around Husara in the state, while many Boko Haram militants were also killed.

“An ongoing mopping operation will determine the number of terrorists who died in the encounter with troops on patrol between Maiduguri and Damboa on Friday,” the statement said.

“A large number of the terrorists died in the process while their IED-laden Hilux vehicle was destroyed. The troops also captured a Hilux vehicle earlier stolen by the terrorists from the Borno state ministry of education, which they have repainted and mounted with an ant-aircraft gun.

“Other weapons recovered by troops include rocket propelled grenades and rifles. Two soldiers died in the encounter.”

It added that in a similar development, military engineer troops who had been clearing the terrorists’ IEDs and effecting repairs on bridges repelled an attack while working on a bridge around Husara.

“Several terrorists also died in the encounter. A total four general purpose machine guns, three rifles and two rocket-propelled grenade launcher were captured from the terrorists during the encounter. One soldier however died while three other were wounded in the encounter.

“In Adamawa state, troops are conducting land patrol of towns including Mubi, Uba, Garkida, Muva and others as the advance by coordinated air and land operations continues in areas where the counter terrorists campaign is ongoing to clear the terrorists operating anywhere in the state.”

On Friday, troops were deployed to Gumsuri in Borno where more than 185 women and children kidnapped by Boko Haram.