64 terrorists, soldiers, others die in Borno confrontation, suicide bombing

No fewer than 53 terrorists were killed on Friday night when troops repelled attacks on its locations by Boko Haram members in Damboa, Borno State.

The military lost five soldiers and a senior officer during the confrontation.

The terrorists, according to a statement on Saturday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, stormed the troops’ bases and police locations, while most of the troops were out on patrol of surrounding villages.

Olukolade said a cordon and search of the locality is ongoing, while the bodies of the fallen soldiers have been recovered and deposited in the military morgue.

The wounded are also receiving treatment in the military medical facility.

In another development, troops on patrol around Baga area have recovered explosives and rifles concealed in a truck loaded with fish and other commodities.

Four suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, Olukolade said.

At Konduga, also in Borno State, a suicide bomber in a Golf car on Friday crashed into a checkpoint, killing himself, a policeman and three vigilante youth members.