Boko Haram, troops in Chibok gun battle

Nigerian troops and local vigilantes (popularly known as the Civilian JTF) are currently in a fierce battle with Boko Haram members in Chibok, Borno state, TheCable has been told.

According to Pogu Bitrus, the chairman of Chibok Development Association, the Boko Haram militants arrived at the town in large numbers but were stopped from taking over the town by a combined team of Nigerian soldiers and the local vigilantes.

“Boko Haram into Chibok yesterday evening, but now fighting is still going on,” he said.

“Our vigilantes have received reinforcement from Damboa. The people in Chibok are fighting back alongside Nigerian soldiers.

“You know there is only a platoon of soldiers at Chibok, because the military thought the place was safe. But now there is reinforcement.”

He said Chibok had not been captured., as the insurgents only occupied Askira, before invading Chibok again.

“They came not just in trucks, but in tanks,” he said.

“And they came in large numbers. Some say about 500 or 1000 of them. But the people are fighting back. We pray Chibok does not fall to Boko Haram.”

Earlier on Thursday, a combination of soldiers, local vigilantes and hunters reclaimed Mubi, Adamawa state, which had been in the control of Boko Haram since an October 30 attack.

Boko Haram first attacked Chibok on April 14, abducting more than 200 girls.

The group always threatened to attack the town again for the audacity of the Chibok parents to demand the release of their daughters.

It had threatened that its next attack would be to wipe out inhabitants of the twon.