Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

More than 50 members of the terrorist Boko Haram sect have been reportedly killed in a new confrontation in Damboa, Borno State.

The terrorists, numbering about 200, had invaded military location in the town in Toyota Hilux vehicles on Friday with intention to overrun the facility but were repelled by a combined team of ground troops and the air fighters.

The insurgents with anti-aircraft guns, Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs and Rocket Propelled Launchers stormed the town in what looks like a revenge mission targeted at both the military and police, eyewitnesses told journalists and succeeded in destroying the police station and some other buildings.

Sadly too, five soldiers; four police officers, including the District Police Officer, DPO, and four civilians also fell in the exchange of gunfire, while others were injured.

The director of defence information, Chris Olukolade, major general, said a cordon and search of the locality is ongoing, while the bodies of the fallen soldiers have been recovered and deposited in the military morgue.

The wounded are also receiving treatment in the military medical facility.

Confirming the incident, the Borno State police command public relations officer, Gideon Jubrin, a deputy superintendent, told journalists that there was an attack on Damboa by suspected terrorists on Friday, but that he was yet to receive full briefing on the occurrence.

In another development, troops on patrol around Baga area have recovered explosives and rifles concealed in a truck loaded with fish and other commodities. Four suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.