Boko Haram Snatch Colonel, Tank As Army Failed To Reclaim Gwoza
During an attempt to reclaim Gwoza in Borno State from the extremist Boko Haram sect, Lieutenant of Nigeria Army has been taken into captivity with the tank he was driving.
The Nigerian Army 213 Battalion, Operation Task Force Mike and 234 Battalion, based in Mubi, Adamawa state, has been sent to Gwoza to battle Boko Haram and reclaim the town.
However, according to the residents, Boko Haram members who invaded the town three days ago, killing over 100 civilians and soldiers, met the Nigeria Army with a fierce gun shots.
The soldiers led into the battle by Lieutenant Bayedi Martins and Lt. Colonel Agu of the 234 Battalion, formerly Special Operations Battalion (SOB), had to retreat when they ran into stiff resistance from the militants as they advanced on Gwoza from Madagali.
A security source who pleaded anonymity said that Mr. Agu has not been found after the battle. "The soldiers retreated but the militants set off in hot pursuit, chased them and snatched one of their tanks as well as the driver of the tank," the source said.
According to the source, the soldier’s wife has been already informed that her husband was in captivity.
"We are expecting the corpses of about five gallant soldiers that were killed during the encounter to arrive here today Saturday," the source added.
Local sources in Madagali said about 30 Hilux pick up vans were used to bring several wounded and dead soldiers back to Mubi in Adamawa.
It is the second time in 24 hours that Nigerian soldiers were defeated by Boko Haram in an attempt to reclaim Gwoza.
The army had recently reclaimed Damboa, also in Borno, after over two weeks of Boko Haram overrunning and planting its flag in the town.
Army sources confirmed that about three military alpha jets were deployed to the area to assist in the rescue of soldiers who might be trapped in mountains surrounding Gwoza.
Source: Legit.ng
