Some Boko Haram fighters have attacked the headquarters of 7 Brigade, Multinational Joint Task Force, in Baga, Borno State, shooting dead a naval officer attached to the Brigade.
Our correspondent learnt that the insurgents, believed to belong to the Islamic State of West African Province, attacked the military headquarters around 7pm on Wednesday and engaged in a firefight with troops which reportedly lasted for more than seven hours.
It was gathered that the Air Task Force component of the Operation Lafiya Dole was called in by the army to deploy fighter jets to engage the terrorists.
The army, which confirmed the attack on Thursday, said the naval personnel was killed in action, adding that further details of casualties would be communicated later.
The attack on Baga came two days after the Boko Haram insurgents also attacked a military base in Kukareta, in the Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe State.
The terrorists had attacked the Forward Operational Base in Kukareta around 6.30pm on Monday, attempting to overrun the base.
Also on Monday, Boko Haram members shot dead 13 soldiers and a police officer in an ambush along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road in Borno State.
The soldiers attached to 1 Division were reportedly on an escort duty when they were ambushed and killed.
The attack on the military headquarters in Baga was the latest with the army noting that a “Search and Rescue team had been constituted to fish out the insurgents.”
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Sani Usman, on Thursday said, “Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the headquarters of 7 Brigade, MNJTF in Baga at about 7pm.
The along with their Nigerian Navy counterparts put up a very determined fight to repel the attack throughout the night, while Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole also sent in reinforcements who are in pursuit of the terrorists. Similarly, a Search and Rescue team has been constituted.
“Unfortunately, a naval personnel was killed in action. So far, no further details of casualties yet as efforts are ongoing to clear the terrorists hiding in Baga and environs.”
Our correspondent learnt that the army chief may visit the North-East to re-strategise with the commanders on the security situation in Borno and Yobe states, particularly as the 2019 general elections drew near.
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