At least three soldiers were killed when Boko Haram fighters ambushed a military convoy in Borno State, security and civilian sources said on Thursday. The attack, which happened on Wednesday near the town of Damboa, on the edge of Boko Haram’s Sambisa Forest enclave in Borno state, is the second against the military within a week.
A senior military officer said the attack, which happened early on Wednesday, targeted a convoy travelling between Damboa and state capital Maiduguri. “We lost three soldiers in the ambush by Boko Haram terrorists.The terrorists in large number opened fire on the convoy of the commanding officer of 81 Battalion… Five other troops were injured in the intense battle that broke out when soldiers engaged the attackers.”
The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media, said the arrival of reinforcements forced the rebels to retreat. A commercial bus driver who was caught in the ambush gave a similar account. “I was one of those trailing behind the military convoy when Boko Haram opened fire and soldiers responded with fire,” said Sani Mato by telephone from Maiduguri. “The soldiers were able to repel the attack but lost three men. Five were also injured.”
Photo Credit: Getty
