The troops of the Nigerian Army said they killed 30 members of the Boko Haram Sect in a failed ambush in Borno State.
An Abuja based Public Relations outfit to the military and security agencies, the PR Nigeria, reported that the insurgents were killed when they attempted to attack a convoy of local government officials and travellers along Bama Road after Nguri-Soye.
It was stated that the troops of the 121 Special Task Force Battalion were escorting the council officials to Pulka when they ran into the ambush on Saturday.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Gwoza Local Government Council, Mr. Saeed Sambo, who was said to be in the convoy was quoted as having said that “the terrorists detonated Improvised Explosive Device and followed this with sporadic gunshots but they were immediately repelled by the gallant troops.”
The special forces were said to have repelled the attack killing the 30 insurgents.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman was also said to have commended the troops led by Patrol Commanders of the 121BN Captain S. Suleiman and Lt. N. Ayuba.
It was stated that some soldiers who received gunshot wounds during the encounter were receiving medical treatment at the Maimalari Barracks Hospital, Maiduguri.
The report also quoted an anonymous aid worker as having confirmed that 30 of the insurgents were killed in the attack.
Our correspondent could not get the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, to comment on the story as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.