Boko Haram members disguise as IDPs, attack soldiers

The Nigerian Army yesterday said its troops’ location at Gudumbali town, Borno State, came under attack by suspected Boko Haram elements, who had disguised as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). According to the Army, the suspected terrorists took advantage of the distribution of relief materials to Gudumbali residents, to execute their mission. The Army said the attack was repelled, but noted that a soldier was killed,while another sustained injuries.

The Theatre Command’s spokesman, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, who made the disclosure in a statement yesterday, said the Friday, December 15 encounter, also resulted in the destruction of a Cobra Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) belonging to the Army, as well as the Unit’s truck. He added that the bodies of many of the suspected terrorists, who were killed during the attack, had been recovered. Also recovered were eight rocket-propelled grenades. Nwachukwu said: “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole located at Gudumbali in northern Borno State on Friday 15th December 2018, repelled an infiltration by suspected Boko Haram terrorists that came disguised as civilian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and inserted themselves into the community.”

He added that some of the attackers came in gun trucks, and opened fire on the troops. Hear him: “The terrorists took advantage of the ongoing distribution of relief materials by the Nigerian Army at Gudumbali and opened fire on troops’ location which was followed by rapid fire from other terrorists in gun trucks along Gudumbali- Kukawa axis. The trucks conveying the relief materials were set ablaze.

However, the troops, however, fought gallantly and outmanoeuvred the attackers and inflicted heavy casualties on them. Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter, while another was wounded in action. A Cobra Armoured Personnel Carrier and a truck belonging to the unit were damaged.” This was as he disclosed that the, “troops have recovered bodies of some of the neutralised terrorists, large quantity of ammunition and eight Rocket Propelled Grenades Charges. The troops have since reinforced and normalcy has restored to the general area.”