Boko Haram: 16 Insurgents Killed as Troops Repel Attack on Base

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of at least 16 Boko Haram insurgents during an attack on their base at Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno on Friday.

The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman confirmed this in a statement issued on Saturday.

Usman said the insurgents stormed the troops location carrying different sophisticated arms and ammunition including Improvised Explosive Devices.

“Yesterday evening remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their numbers attacked our troops location at Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

The terrorists came with Motorcycles Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (MCBIED), Anti-Aircraft Guns and other weapons at about 5:00 p.m.

The exchange of fire lasted for some hours before they were overwhelmed by the troops’ firepower.

The troops killed 16 insurgents, seven died instantly during the exchange of fire while nine other bodies were discovered during a clearance operation in the surrounding area on Saturday morning,” the statement read.

Usman added that quite a number of the insurgents escaped with gun shot wounds.

He said the truck and the mounted weapon were also damaged beyond repairs while five soldiers sustained varying degree of injuries.

Usman said bodies of the two fallen heroes and the wounded soldiers had been evacuated to Maiduguri, while reinforcement was sent from Gomboru Ngala.

He said the troops recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun, Rocket Propelled Grenade, ammunition, while two terrorists were captured alive.

Usman said troops have also discovered and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along Gomboru-Rann road to prevent troops’ reinforcement to Rann.

He said the Commanding Officer of 3 Battalion visited the troops and held durbar with them, commending them for their doggedness during attack.

Usman noted that despite the incident, troops’ morale remained high as they have continued with the clearance operations.