Dozens of Boko Haram fighters were reported killed Tuesday as soldiers of the Nigerian Army night engaged the suspected terrorists in hours of shootout.
The insurgents met their waterloo after they attacked a military base in recently recaptured Kangarwa in the north of Borno State, officials said.
It was the biggest fight for the troops in recent weeks, army authorities said.
Two soldiers died in the fighting as the insurgents invaded the base with suicide bombs.
Kangarwa was until recently the strongest stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorists after their dislodgment from Sambisa and Alagarno.
The chief of defence staff was on Thursday in the Kangarwa frontline to commend gallant soldiers shortly after it was captured by the troops.
But on Tuesday night the insurgents came back to attack the soldiers that were still holding on to the recaptured territory.
The spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Sani Usman, said the ensuing shootout lasted for about three hours as troops backed by joint air support from the Nigerian and Chadian Air Forces effectively dislodged the attacking gunmen leaving dozens of their bodies in the surrounding bush.
Colonel Usman’s statement reads:
“Troops of 119 Task Force Battalion stationed in Kangarwa northern Borno State, have successfully repelled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists Tuesday evening.
“The attack which started at about 6.30pm, was successfully repelled after about 3 hours of exchange of heavy gunfire that inflicted tremendous casualty on the terrorists. Unfortunately, 2 of our gallant soldiers paid the supreme price, while 7 were wounded in action.
“Due to poor visibility, the number of terrorists killed could not be ascertained for now.
The bodies of the gallant soldiers and those wounded in action are being evacuated while the unit is carrying out mop up operation. It should be noted that the successful repelling of the attack was made possible by support from the Nigerian and Chadian Air Force fighter jets”.
(c)Premiumtimes
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