Boko Haram insurgents overrun military base in Yobe
- Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly attacked a military base in Yobe state
- The attack came a day after a military convoy was attacked by the terrorists in Bulagallaye, Borno state
- Some soldiers are reportedly still unaccounted for in the Yobe attack
Some soldiers were reportedly unaccounted for and several weapons missing after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked a military base in Jilli, a village in Yobe state, on Saturday, July 14.
There are also unidentified number of casualties on both the military and the terrorists side.
Daily Trust reported that the terrorists, dressed in military apparel got access to a military facility in Jilli, a village in Yobe state close to the border with Borno state in the fringes of Lake Chad.
A source who spoke to the press said the attacked area which shares border with Niger Republic has many cells under the control of the Abu Mus’ab Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram which has ties with the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAB).
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The source said: “About 100 of the troops that disappeared from the base in Jilli after the clash have reported in Geidam town but very few of them had their weapons with them.
“The soldiers manning the military facility took over two hours, from around 6.20pm till around 9pm, fighting hundreds of Boko Haram militants, who eventually overran the facility."
A top military source who also confirmed the attack said: “Yes, the 81 Division Forward Brigade in Jilli was overran by the terrorists and some of our men ran to Geidam for reinforcement…Everything is now under control."
When asked about the casualty figures, he said: “It’s too early to ascertain, but there must be casualty from both sides.
A soldier who survived the attack said: “There was trench around the base, but they confidently approached the gate and we opened it thinking they were troops from Gubio. They started shooting and we engaged them before they overran us.
“About 10 of us ran to Ngilewa village where a Good Samaritan drove us to Damakarwa village and handed us to the troops from Geidam. I cannot say anything about the casualties but the attack was fatal."
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Modu Grema, a driver from the area, said they rescued 53 soldiers and one vigilante who sustained bullet wound on his leg.
“I was sleeping when 13 soldiers knocked at my door. Initially, I refused to open the door because of the gunshots that enraged the military location. When I opened, 13 soldiers asked me to drive them to Geidam, in fact they insisted.
“I picked my car keys and drove them to Damakarwa village under intense fear because I would have been dead by now if we mistakenly cross paths with the insurgents."
Goni Baana, a farmer in Gubio local government area of Borno state, who is now in Maiduguri, said many of the soldiers that left Jilli at night crossed to Gwala village where they passed the night.
“From what I gathered, our people in Gwala led them to a base in Gubio town in the morning,” he said.
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NAIJ. com earlier reported that no fewer than 23 Nigerian soldiers are yet to be accounted for after Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a military convoy at Boboshe village in Bama local government area of Borno state.
Five officers, 18 soldiers and 8 trucks were missing after the attack which occurred early on Saturday, July 14.
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Source: Legit.ng
