Suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Tuesday morning ambushed the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu’s leading convoy.
Ezugwu was on his way to visit troops in Bama, Borno State. Bama is about 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
According to a statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, acting Director, Army Public Relations, a soldier lost his live in the ambush while two others were injured.
The statement noted that the army was “able to clear the ambush, killing some of the terrorists and recovered vehicle and weapons from them. The recovered items include a Toyota Hilux vehicle, 2 AK-47 rifles and several ammunitions”.
It noted that the acting GOC continued his operational visit to Bama, while the body of the soldier and the wounded were evacuated to Maiduguri.
It said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has also spoken with the GOC.
“The Nigerian army wishes to reiterate its unalloyed commitment and determination to continue to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding”, the statement noted.
On Monday, BBC reported that Boko Haram fighters inflicted heavy casualties on troops of the Nigerian army.
The insurgents were said to have stormed the base of the soldiers in Kareto village in Borno State in large numbers.
Sani Usman, spokesman of the army, who confirmed the blow on the army, failed to give details.
The BBC quoted a soldier as saying the militants came with “heavy weapons which we didn’t have”.
A resident of Kareto said troops managed to regain control of the village with the support of fighter jets.
“Several of the militants were killed in the fighting which lasted for several hours,” the resident was quoted as saying.
Despite the claim of the government to have brought the sect under control, Boko Haram has continued to carry out different attacks.
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