LAGOS MARCH 8TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents have carried out coordinated attacks on Nigerian Army bases in Ngoshe and Pulka towns of Gwoza Local Government Area in Borno State, killing several soldiers and abducting more than 300 residents.
Security sources disclosed that the attacks occurred late Tuesday night when heavily armed militants simultaneously targeted the two military formations located in the southern part of the state.
According to the sources, the insurgents first launched an assault on the Nigerian Army base in Ngoshe, where at least nine soldiers and an imam were reportedly killed. The attackers also destroyed the military facility after overpowering the troops stationed there.
During the raid, the insurgents reportedly looted firearms and ammunition from the base, forcing the soldiers to retreat. Witnesses said the attackers remained in the community for several hours, operating freely before leaving.
The District Secretary of Ngoshe, Shuibu Dabawa, said he narrowly escaped the attack by fleeing into the surrounding bush, where he spent the night before returning to safety.
Dabawa revealed that the attackers abducted more than 300 residents during the invasion.
“As I speak with you, there is no military presence in Ngoshe. Elderly persons and people living with disabilities are currently trapped in the town,” he told journalists.
He appealed to security agencies to urgently provide protection for residents seeking to return to the community to rescue those stranded and bury victims of the attack.
“We are pleading with the security agencies to escort us back to the community so that we can evacuate those trapped and give the deceased a proper burial,” he said.
He added that the exact casualty figure among residents remained unclear but noted that several people were feared dead.
In a related development, another group of insurgents attacked a military base in Pulka, also within Gwoza Local Government Area.
Security sources reported that the attack resulted in the death of five soldiers, including the commanding officer of the base. Several other soldiers sustained injuries and were evacuated to Maiduguri for medical treatment.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not issued an official statement regarding the incidents.
Source: Tribune
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