Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Seven soldiers, including an Army Colonel were feared killed on Wednesday evening by suspected Boko Haram insurgents along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road. The Army’s escort, according to residents of Jakana and Mainok, ran into fleeing terrorists that retreated from heavy exchange of gun fire of troops at Jakana, 40 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. “The Colonel and his convoy ran into some fleeing insurgents, before the soldiers were attacked, killing seven of them,” said Modu Fannami, a resident of Jakana. An anonymous military officer in Maiduguri said: “The Colonel with his escort was just unlucky to run into the insurgents on his way from Maiduguri to Damaturu without notice of the ongoing attack on highway.” While confirming yesterday’s incident, Spokesman of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Ado Isa in a text message however, said: “Not confirmed sir. No confirmation on subject.” The anonymous military officer told The Guardian that the Colonel is from 29 Task Force Brigade of Sector II of Operation Lafiya Dole. He claimed that the insurgents were dealt a heavy blow as one of their gun trucks was burnt and dozens of them were neutralised. Fannami further disclosed that two civilians were killed in the Jakana attack from stray bullets without killing any resident of Jakana and Mainok.
