Defeated Boko Haram ambushes Nigerian soldiers, many missing, 19 in critical condition

There is fear that many Nigerian soldiers may have lost their lives after the Boko Haram sect ambushed them in a community in Borno state.

According to the army, an unknown number of soldiers are still missing while it is still battling to save the lives of 19 other soldiers injured during the clash on Thursday.

Also, victims of the deadly attack which happened in a village known as Guro Gongon, are members of the Civilian-JTF entrenched with the military squad.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, disclosed that the injured soldiers have been moved to Maiduguri, the state’s capital, adding that a rescue team has been deployed to go and look out for the unspecified number of the missing soldiers.

Read also: We have defeated Boko Haram, FG boasts

“Today morning, troops on clearance patrol at Guro Gongon village and environs to rout out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating therein, destroyed the terrorists’ makeshift camps and recovered quite a number of weapons, equipment and foodstuff in the process.

“However, the gallant soldiers basking on the recorded success, returning to their defensive locations, ran into an ambush by a group of Boko Haram terrorists who came to reinforce their fleeing comrades. The troops fought back gallantly killing several of the insurgents.

“Sadly however, 19 soldiers and 3 civilian JTF members were wounded in action while a few others were missing in action,” Usman said.

This is happening only a day after the Federal government boasted it has defeated the insurgent Boko Haram in the North East.

Ripples Nigeria reports Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, saying at a two-day seminar in Port Harcourt, Rivers state with the theme: “Media Engagement in Crises Situation for Military, Security and Response Agencies,” that the war in the North-East with the Boko Haram has been fought and won – as the Boko Haram elements have been routed, degraded and are being decimated.”

by Ebere Ndukwu …

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