Fierce BATTLE: 40 Boko Haram members killed near Sambisa forest

N o fewer than 40 Boko Haram insurgents died in a night
raid and fierce battle with military troops in Borno, the
military said yesterday.
Many residents of Maiduguri said they were awaken by
sporadic gunshots and deafening sound from supposed
bomb explosion believably from an area at the outskirts of
the state capital, fuelling speculation some Boko Haram
may be carrying out deadly attack in neighbouring
communities. “I heard a blast twice between 12am and 1am
and the third one came at about 3.30. The sound was quite
deafening,” Aminu Jubril, a resident told Saturday Sun.
However, the Director of Defence Information, Major Gen
Chris Olukolade in a statement made available to
journalists in Maiduguri yesterday said on the contrary,
the arrest of some leaders of the insurgents sparked off
fierce battle between the military troops and the
terrorists at Bulabulin around Konduga Local Government
with the Boko Haram recording highest casualties of 40.
“The capture of a number of terrorists believed to be the
ringleaders of those operating around Alagarmo, has
sparked off a major fight in the outskirts of Bulanbuli,
Borno State last night. Over 40 terrorists died in the
encounter while four soldiers lost their lives and nine were
wounded. Two of the terrorists were earlier arrested at a
local market two days ago while trying to procure
foodstuff while others were spying on the military base in
the area. Others still being trailed include a terrorist
medic who was on a mission to procure drugs for use by his
colleagues,” Olukolade said through the statement.
Bulanbuli is between Alagarmo and Sambisa Forest where
the terrorists have been attempting to establish a
stronghold in their campaign.