Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked a military post in Mairari community, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. Some soldiers are feared dead.
Reports say the attack happened around midnight on Tuesday.
Local sources told The PUNCH that the attack lasted over two hours. They said there were casualties on both sides.
Umar Sheriff, the Chairman of Guzamala Local Government Area, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH on Wednesday. He said no civilians were hurt.
Sheriff explained that the terrorists aimed directly at the military base. He said, “The incident occurred last night around 12 am. Though I don’t have statistics regarding the casualties yet, because it’s not everything we are told. It’s a security matter. But I know that no civilian was killed.”
He called the attack a major one, saying the area had not seen such violence recently. “They have never attacked as much as this time, but thank God, the military were able to repel them,” he added.
The chairman mentioned that things were calm now. He planned to visit the community on Thursday to check the situation.
“The situation is calm. I will be there tomorrow morning (Thursday) to evaluate the situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, some local sources, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that both sides had casualties.
One source said, “I know there are military casualties. It was rumoured that seven soldiers were killed, but no one could verify that yet.”
Another source stated, “That attack left the entire town in tension. With the gunfire yesterday, there is no way that the terrorists will not suffer casualties. Both local forces and the military stood their ground.”
Attempts to reach Capt Mohammed Goni, the Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, were unsuccessful. He did not answer or return calls as of press time.
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