Nigerian soldiers on Wednesday morning captured five Boko Haram terrorists and seized two anti-aircraft guns after the troops foiled an early morning attack by the violent sect in Biu, Borno State.
Suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect had Wednesday morning launched an attack on a military checkpoint near the Army Barracks in Biu Local Government Area (LGA) secretariat of Borno State.
Biu is the second largest council area in Borno State and is about 185 kilometres south of Maiduguri.
A military source said it was a coordinated intelligence sharing on terrorist’s activities in North East that assisted them to foil attacks on Biu and Azare towns in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving 41 suspected insurgents killed in Biu and Azare area of Borno State.
Defense Information Director (DID), Major General Chris Olukolade, in a chat with our Correspondent, confirmed, the development but declined further comment, when he was pushed for details.
“I am giving you what I have, don’t push further, because you would not get anything more from me.”
However, residents and sources said the insurgents came into Biu, through the Garkida-Yimirshika-Biu road and attempted to invade the Military barracks situated along the road before military operatives engaged them in gun battle.
Although, no one can ascertain whether there were casualties on the part of the Nigerian military, but people in communities in and around the Biu Emirates have allegedly started fleeing the area to safety.
Sources attached to the 7 Division, Nigerian Army in Maiduguri confirmed the incident but said the military are on top of the situation.
According to reports from a field military officer in Biu, who spoke to our Correspondent in a telephone interview, the insurgents were bombed while moving towards Biu and Azare with an aerial support of two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets from Yola.
It would be recalled that terrorists had on Tuesday evening attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Azare town of Hawul Local Government Area and allegedly carted away many arms and ammunitions before proceeding to Biu to attack another military posts, before they were repelled by the military.
“Three hours after, two fighter jets arrived and cleared the terrorists’ convoy of vehicles proceeding to Biu, three kilometres away from our military post.” he said.
Another senior military officer attached to the 7 Division of Nigerian Army in Maiduguri also confirmed the incident, stating that the soldiers are on top of the security situation. “Our soldiers are on top of the situation and I can tell you that with all amount of confidence,” he stated.
