Military Officers, Task Force Members and Hunters Missing After Boko Haram Ambush in Borno 

Several military personnel, members of the civilian joint task force, hunters, and vigilantes are missing following a Boko Haram ambush at Baga, on the fringes of Lake Chad.  The attack occurred on Tuesday when the combined team sought to recover the bodies of 40 residents killed in a previous assault by the insurgents.

A military source told ChannelsTv correspondence that soldiers were caught off guard while searching for the victims’ remains.

Our troops went too far in search of the dead bodies, and the terrorists ambushed us”, the source revealed. ” There was an exchange of fire, and they killed some of our soldiers. We are still trying to ascertain the number of casualties as some soldiers are yet to return to base.”

The ambush resulted in military losses but and heavy civilian casualties. According to a local source, around 50 civilians, including members of the civilian joint task force, local hunters, and other young men, had mobilised to retrieve the dead but were similarly attacked. Only one survivor has reportedly returned to the village.

About 50 villagers went to recover the dead bodies of those killed by Boko Haram terrorists. The terrorists ambushed them, killing several people, we are still waiting for the others to return”, the source recounted

It will be recalled that last week at least six soldiers lost their lives, and military and school vehicles were set ablaze in a deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram militants over the weekend in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. The assault, described as “well-coordinated,” has raised concerns about the resurgence of terrorist activities in northeastern Nigeria.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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