JUST IN; Five Soldiers killed in fresh ambush onslaught
Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have launched a surprise attack targeting military personnel involved in stabilization efforts in the Gubio Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, the Defence Headquarters has confirmed.
According to Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, the assault resulted in the deaths of five soldiers, with ten others wounded and four missing.
Despite these losses, the military successfully repelled the attackers, neutralising several terrorists and recovering a range of weapons.
The attack also led to the destruction of significant military assets, including one gun truck, three TCVs, and an excavator.
A reinforcement team, supported by air assets, was promptly deployed to pursue the insurgents and prevent further damage.
A military source shared additional details with Daily Trust, revealing that insurgents had launched multiple assaults to overrun a special military unit stationed in Kareto, Gubio LGA.
The first attack, which occurred on August 16 at 6:00 AM, resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers and several injuries, while six insurgents were killed.
In a subsequent attack, five more soldiers lost their lives, but more than 30 terrorists were eliminated, with no further casualties on the military side.
The special forces stationed in Kareto had only recently begun preparing for the return of displaced civilians, including the construction of trenches, when the insurgents launched their assault.
These attacks are part of a broader wave of violence in the Lake Chad region, where insurgent activity has surged despite recent successes by the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
A deadly assault last month claimed the lives of 40 soldiers, prompting a retaliatory operation by Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno, which resulted in heavy terrorist casualties and forced the remaining insurgents to retreat into Niger Republic.
In response to the attack, the Borno State Government expressed its condolences to the military for the loss of soldiers in Kareto.
In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security Usman Tar condemned the attack as a stark reminder of the terrorists’ cruelty and extended heartfelt condolences to the armed forces and the families of the fallen soldiers.
The government reaffirmed its unwavering support for the military’s efforts to bring an end to the insurgency in the region.
