Breaking news: Nigerian soldiers battle Boko Haram in Gaidam

Wednesday, October 7, 2015 7:23 pm

Nigerian soldiers

Nigerian soldiers on Wednesday battled the Boko Haram militants in Gaidam local council area of Yobe state, after an invasion by the terrorists.

The invasion came same day that the terrorists released a video, claiming that they are still as potent as ever and that claims by Nigeria’s military of conquests were not true.

Early today, troops of the 120 Task Force Battalion in Goniri, also in the state repelled an attack on a military base by the insurgents, killing 100 of them. The insurgents killed 7 Nigerian soldiers, wounding nine.

The Nigerian military did not give details of the Gaidam attack until 24 hours after, after the visit of the chief or army staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.

The Nigerian Army confirmed the attack on Sector 1 of 27 Task Force Brigade located at Gaidam, Yobe State on Wednesday evening.

Colonel Sani Usman, Acting Director of Army Public Relations who revealed this in a statement said the attack was successfully repelled by the troops and the reinforcement sent.

According to him, while the troops killed most of the attacking terrorists and destroyed their weapons and equipment, the Army also lost three soldiers and some equipment during the encounter.

The Army spokesperson said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai who was on operational visit to North East, personally visited the troops location, assessed the damage done and warned the officers of the unit that such ugly incident should not be allowed to happen again.

Col Usman also revealed that the COAS also drove into the town and further assessed damage by the terrorists and gave further directives to the troops for the defence and improved security of the general area.

General Buratai, he added, also met with some of the community leaders and Idris Aloma Polytechnic staff where he assured them of their safety and improved security. He added that the situation in Geidam is now calm and people are going about their normal businesses.

According to Colonel Usman, the Chief of Army Staff was received at Geidam by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General Hassan Umaru and Acting Commander 27 Task Force Brigade who led the reinforcement team last night.

The COAS was accompanied on the visit by the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yushau Abubakar, the Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Major General Fatai Alli, as well as Acting Director of Military Intelligence, Acting Provost Marshall and Director of Campaign Planning, as well as the Acting Director Army Public Relations and the Liaison Officer of the Multinational Joint Taskforce.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to assure the public that this isolated incident would not be allowed to repeat itself. We reaffirm our determination and commitment to root out the Boko Haram terrorists in all their enclaves before the end of this year. The Chief of Army has continued his operational visit to other formations and units within the theatre of war against the Boko Haram terrorists,” said Col. Usman.

*Updated at 21.22 on Thursday