Fresh details have emerged following a deadly gun battle between Nigerian troops and terrorists suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents at a military base in Yobe State.
Earlier on Saturday, the Nigerian Army confirmed that its soldiers were engaged in heavy combat with terrorists in Buni Gari, a town in Yobe.
In a brief update shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Army said:
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI currently in a fierce battle against ISWAP attack at Buni Gari, Yobe State. Details later.”
Residents of Buni Gari reported that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday and appeared to target the 27 Task Force Brigade stationed in the area.
“It was in the early hours of today, around 1.00am we heard a heavy gun battle at the 27 Task Force Brigade which is unusual to the test firing by the military. We later confirmed it was suspected insurgents,” one resident told reporters.
A military source disclosed that four soldiers have been gunned down.
“We were taken off guard by the heavy explosion and gunfire, but we stood our ground. A lot of our fighting equipment was destroyed during the encounter.
“Yes, we lost four of our men, just as they also recorded casualties during the fierce battle that lasted for hours,“ he said
Over the past few weeks, insurgents have launched repeated attacks on military posts in the region. They also destroyed a culvert along the Goniri Road and reportedly kidnapped travellers along the Damaturu–Buni Gari–Biu route, increasing fear among locals.
This latest attack comes just two days after governors from the North-East met to discuss new strategies to combat the ongoing insecurity that had plagued the region for years.
