Army repels Boko Haram attack in Yobe, ‘kills dozens’

The Nigerian army says it killed dozens of Boko Haram insurgents during an attempted attack on a military base located at Goniri in Yobe state.

Sagir Musa, the army spokesman, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday.

Musa said the insurgents came for the aborted attack in seven gun trucks and motorcycles around 6:33pm on Wednesday.

According to him, the troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce battle, killing dozens of them while many fled with varying degree of injuries.

He said the troops were able to seize five of the gun trucks, one vehicle blinde leger, an assorted quantity of ammunition and destroyed a number of motorcycles.

He assured that the troop would continue to “remain committed and resolute to conducting robust multiple aggressive operations to end the insurgency”.

“Following aborted attempt by terrorists to infiltrate 120 Task Force Battalion location at Goniri, Yobe State, Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, at about 1833 hours on Wednesday 26 June 2019,” the statement read.

“Troops of 120 Task Force Battalion in Goniri, Yobe, in a professional manner, tactically waited for the terrorists to close into the killing range and opened a heavy volume of fire on the criminals who approached the location with 7 gun trucks and several other fighters on motorcycles.

“Consequently, this encounter/ambush resulted in the annihilation of dozens of terrorists, many fled with some levels of injuries and the following equipment were captured; 5 Gun Trucks, Vehicle Blinde Leger (VBL), an assorted quantity of ammunition and an unconfirmed number of motorcycles were destroyed.”