Bandits Capture Commander, 13 Others, Kill Seven Soldiers During Attack On Troops

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Military has, again, recorded serious fatality in the ongoing war against insurgency in the Northeast area of the country.

In what looks like a reprisal attack in an ambush, suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed seven Nigerian soldiers and captured 13 others, including their commanding officer, a major in Borno State.

The troops were said to be on patrol in the Damasak area around 1400 GMT on Monday, when the terrorists attacked the soldiers.

Quoting Reuters, two security sources said seven soldiers were killed, 11 soldiers managed to escape, but 13 others were captured during the gun battle.

“The major fought hard, but in the end, he was captured, and his phone was taken by Boko Haram.”

A security source who was briefed on the incident said the troops tried to call the number after they returned to their camp.

He said a Boko Haram member picked up the call and said the major and other troops were in the group’s custody.

“A man who identified himself as an ISWAP terrorist keeps answering the call to the commander’s mobile phone, suggesting he is in the hands of the terrorists.”

The sources said a military rescue team had since found the bodies of the seven dead soldiers, but had not located the missing troops.

Daily Trust however, quoted another military officer who revealed that nine soldiers were killed and over a dozen are missing after terrorists ambushed a military patrol.

“The terrorists detonated an explosive device they had planted on the road in advance, increasing the casualties and confusion among the soldiers.

“We lost nine soldiers in an ambush by ISWAP terrorists, and many others are still missing.”

Ya-Mulam Kadai, a spokesman for the government-funded anti-jihadist militia, said the military search team deployed at the scene of the attack recovered the nine bodies of the slain soldiers.

Recall that Boko Haram terrorists  killed a pastor and four others in Tarfa Village, Borno State.

The terrorists invaded the community as the locals returned from farming, highlighting ongoing security challenges.

The hunters attempted to defend the community, but were overwhelmed by the terrorists’ firepower.

The military said it recovered rifles, explosives, motorcycles, and communication equipment during follow-up operations in the area.

Despite the fatality, the Army has vowed that operations would be sustained across the North-East despite recent casualties in separate clearance operations.