Premium Times reports that more than 100 soldiers from the 157 battalion
are missing following a daring attack by Boko Haram insurgents at
Gudunbali, Borno state. One of the sources
claims that the militants also seized a T-72 tank as well as numerous artillery
arms from the unit. The military source said: “Gudunbali was attacked this morning and some weapons were captured from
the battalion. Two officers and 105 soldiers are still missing.
“They captured a T-72 tank from the unit and some artillery weapons
were also captured. The commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion is yet to be
seen but no one has been confirmed dead yet.” Meanwhile, another source stated that the tank was
found after a continued battle with the Boko Haram members. The gunner and tank
commander were reportedly wounded in the process. The terrorists reportedly
took eight vehicles, a truck loaded with 60,000 rounds of AA ammunition and
three weaponry pieces.
In a related
development, troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) positioned
at Baga, Borno state was also recently was attacked. The onslaught happened in
Geringiwa at about four kilometres to the headquarters of the force. According
to reports, lack of fire power has hindered the army’s efforts to fully clear
the terrorists from Baga and nearby towns due to. The source said the
equipment recently given to the army hierarchy was inadequate and were not
enough to go round to all units engaged in the war against the insurgency.
In a series of mass killings in Baga in the beginning of the year more
than 2000 people were killed according to media sources. However, army said
that there were far less causalities. Though the army later liberated the town, the troops positioned in the region have
come under continuous attacks from the Boko Haram sect. The attacks on the army
came on the heels of the suicide attacks Kano correspondingly. The
Nigerian army recently has claimed series of victories over the militants.