By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Boko Haram insurgents have again suffered heavy casualties as the continued advancement by the sect towards Maiduguri was warded off by troops of the Nigerian Army in two different parts of the state.

Probably with their eyes on the state capital, the insurgents were reported to have launched an attack on Benesheikh, some 75 kilometres to Maiduguri on Thursday.

Also, attempts by the insurgents on Thursday and Friday to overrun Konduga, some 40 kilometres east of Maiduguri, where they have suffered heavy casualties in recent times were warded off.

In Benesheikh on Thursday, the insurgents were said to have blocked the highway with the aim of killing passengers who may not be aware of their presence in the area before been successfully repelled by the vigilant soldiers while they suffered heavy casualties in Konduga, forcing them to retreat

It was however not clear at the time of filing this report if the insurgents succeeded in killing anybody.

An eye witness, Hussaini Musa, who passed through Benesheikh along Maiduguri/Damaturu road on Friday, said he saw five corpses by the roadside which some passersby said are those of members of the Boko Haram sect.

“From what I learnt, soldiers from the outskirt of Benesheikh and others from Auno intervened and averted what would have been a major onslaught,” Musa said.

In the past, scores of people have been killed by insurgents at Benesheikh while a number of houses, including the council secretariat and other public and private estates buildings were destroyed.