LAGOS
The Nigerian army said it had killed at least 38 Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday morning when soldiers foiled an attack against Damboa town in the restive northeastern Borno State.
"The insurgents attempted to launch an attack on Damboa to cause havoc and mayhem, but due to the timely information and gallantry displayed by the troops, the attack was repelled and inflicted heavy casualty on the terrorists," army spokesman Mohammed Dole said in a statement.
"No fewer than 38 members of the sect have been killed by troops of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army," he added.
One soldier was killed and two others sustained gunshot injuries during the operation, said the army spokesman.
He confirmed that some of the insurgents had fled with various degrees of injuries.
"A combined ground troops and Nigerian Air Force aircraft were tactically pursuing the fleeing terrorists in the general area of Damboa and surrounding villages," Dole said.
He asserted that three vehicles laden with cylinders, improvised explosive devices and 200 bags of food stuff were recovered."
The army spokesman added that a large cache of assorted arms of high caliber weapons and ammunition were also seized.
The last weeks saw a lull in insurgent activities across much of the violence-prone Northeastern Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The three states have been under an emergency rule imposed since May to stamp out the Boko Haram insurgency.
Boko Haram, a hitherto peaceful organization that had preached against corruption, suddenly turned violent in 2009 following the murder of group leader Mohamed Yusuf while in police custody.
In the years since, the group has been blamed for thousands of terrorist acts, including attacks on churches and security posts across Nigeria's northern region.
Although it claims to want an Islamist government in the region, Nigerian Muslims – most of whom reject Boko Haram as un-Islamic – have also been targeted by the militant group.
By Rafiu Ajakaye
englishnews@aa.com.tr
