A deadly confrontation over the weekend between the Joint Task Force, JTF, and the insurgent group, Boko Harm, in Zabarmari, Borno State has left at least 50 of the sect members dead.

A military source disclosed to journalists on Sunday that the attack was launched following intelligence gathered that some fleeing members of the sect had found abode in Zabaramari ward of Jere Local Government Area, few kilometres from Maiduguri.

“We received an intelligence report that several number of Boko Haram terrorists have regrouped and were residing and hiding in this ward. We mobilized our troops to the area and on reaching the place the suspects upon noticing our presence began to chant: “Allahu Akbar,” (God is Great) and started shooting sporadically at us,” he said.

According to the source, the JTF was left with no option than to repel the attack and 10 insurgents were killed in that gunfire exchange, while another 40 were reportedly killed at the burial of the first batch of casualties.

“We decided not to take away any of their corpses as we left them in the area, but the following day; when we mobilized our men to the area, we found out that hundreds of the terrorists were at one of the grave yards burying their dead ones, and when we approached some of them started shooting at our troops which led to the exchange of gun fire for half an hour that led to the killing of 40 of them,” the source said.

He added that JTF is still in Zabarmari hunting for more of the terror suspects who might have escaped the encounter.

Three suspected members who were on their way to Jigawa State reportedly for a suicide mission, have also been arrested by the civilian JTF youths who later handed them over to a JTF unit.

“One of them is now dead…the deceased before his death told us that, already, all their weapons of massive destruction have been transported to the targeted areas; waiting for their arrival,” the source said.

Zabarmari ward has been one of the identified black spot areas of the Islamist sect.