PERSONS suspected to be Boko Haram Terrorists have invaded Mussa Village of Askira-Uba Local Government Area in Southern Borno State and set ablaze dozens of residential houses and a man suspected to have been trapped in the attack.
This was not the first time Mussa village is witnessing Boko Haram attacks, as even the palace of the community head wwas burnt down by insurgents in recent past.
This incident is coming barely 24 hours after a group of insurgents laid ambush on military troops in Ajiri village of Dikwa Local Government Area leaving 7 soldiers dead with over 20 injured.
Nigeria’s military on Friday said seven of its soldiers were killed and 19 others injured in a Boko Haram ambush, in the latest incident against troops and the security services in the country’s northeast.
Lieutenant Colonel Kingsley Samuel, a spokesman for the Nigerian Army 7th Division in Maiduguri, said the ambush happened on Thursday evening on the road to Dikwa during “routine rotation” of troops.
“The gallant troops fought their way through, killing many of the terrorists. Unfortunately seven soldiers paid the supreme price… while 19 soldiers sustained various degree of injuries,” he said in a statement.
The injured were taken to hospital in Maiduguri for treatment. Reinforcements were sent and they were in “aggressive pursuit” of Boko Haram, he added.
A military source had earlier told AFP at least eight soldiers were killed in the attack and that it happened at about 9:00 am (0800 GMT) on Friday at Ajirin village, in the Mafa area of Borno state.
The source, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, described the battle as “a heavy gunfight”.
“It was a surprise attack and this is what led to the casualty toll,” the source added.
A civilian vigilante involved in helping the military with security in the restive region also confirmed the account but said as many as 10 soldiers may have been killed.
Conflicting death tolls and accounts are not uncommon in the remote region, access to which is strictly controlled by the military and government, making independent verification difficult.
At least 20,000 people have been killed in the Boko Haram conflict since it began in 2009. More than 2.6 million have been made homeless.
