- The reports confirm that the soldiers did all within their powers to repel the insurgents before they were overpowered
- The reports claim details about the situation are still being gathered by the authorities
At least 31 soldiers were reported dead, 19 injured and some others yet to be unaccounted for as Boko Haram insurgents allegedly invaded a base of the Nigerian Army in Borno state on Thursday, August 30.
Premium Times reports that scores of Boko Haram fighters carried out the attack on the base located at Zari, a small community north of Maiduguri and near the border with Niger.
The report said the insurgents stormed the base in 12 gun trucks while some others came on foot in the early evening of that day.
The report quoted sources in the know as revealing that the soldiers earlier showed gallantry by repelling the terrorists. However, they failed at a point and “the insurgents broke into the camp after about an hour of exchange of gunfire.
“An unknown number of troops could still not be accounted for as at Saturday (September 1) morning, our sources said.
“A search and rescue operation is currently underway in conjunction with troops from the 145 battalion, this website learnt.
“The wounded officers and men were evacuated to the Nigerian Army 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maiduguri.
“Two of our sources said the terrorists made away with armoured personnel carriers, anti-aircraft guns, water tanker, utility trucks, ambulances and other equipment.
“They also burnt satellite communication equipment and destroyed makeshift tents inside the camp,” the report quoted the source as saying adding that the authorities were still trying to ascertain Boko Haram casualties.
It is not immediately clear whichof the two Boko Haram factions carried out the attack.
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The report said the Army confirmed the attack on Friday, August 30, but the spokesperson for the theatre command in Maiduguri, Onyema Nwakchukwu, said soldiers killed many Boko Haram insurgents when they repelled the attack.
“I am only aware of aerial bombardment and the response of the ground troops that left many Boko Haram fighters killed.
“But I am not aware of soldiers’ casualties and I would not have such information until it gets to my desk," Colonel Nwachukwu reportedly said through the telephone.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had successfully completed the in-house life extension programme on one of its C-130H aircraft, NAF 913.
The spokesperson for the force, Olatokunbo Adesanya, in a statement on Wednesday, July 25, said the airlift capability of the service has been improved following the extension programme the aircraft.
Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Naij.com TV
