AN unspecified number of Nigerian military personnel have gone missing following an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, near the Lake Chad region.
Military sources, speaking anonymously to newsmen, revealed that soldiers were ambushed while attempting to recover the bodies of 40 civilians killed by the insurgents. Several soldiers were reportedly killed in the ensuing gunfight.
“Our troops went to recover the bodies of civilians killed by the terrorists. We ventured too far, and the terrorists ambushed us,” a military source stated.
“The operation involved a combined team of armed forces and civilians. There was an exchange of gunfire, and some of our soldiers were killed. The exact number of casualties remains unknown as some soldiers have not returned to base, and the bodies are yet to be recovered.”
A civilian source in Baga reported that about 50 civilians, including members of the civilian joint task force, hunters, and young men, mobilized to retrieve the bodies but were also ambushed. Only one person has returned so far.
“About 50 villagers mobilized and went out to recover the dead bodies of the villagers that were killed by Boko Haram terrorists and then the terrorists ambushed them. They killed several people, but we don’t know the number yet because one person has return to the village, we are awaiting others.
“I don’t know the casualty on the side of the military as such I cannot talk about it, but the civilians include civilian joint taskforce members, hunters and vigilantes,” the local source said.
This incident happened yesterday in Baga after an attack that killed forty residents.
There was an attack in Gwoza which resulted in the death of six people, five of them are said to be repentant insurgents, civilian joint taskforce and hunters.
