Soldiers foil Boko Haram attack on Biu, kill 41 insurgents

The Nigerian Army yesterday waded off an attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to take over Biu, the largest town in southern Borno which is about 300km from Maiduguri. Biu is one of the towns in Borno state which has not been attacked by Boko Haram. According to Military sources, the insurgents suffered heavy casualty as many of them who attempted to invade the Army barracks in the town were killed. One of the sources, according to Punch, said 41 corpses of the insurgents laid at different spots around the barracks, another said seven of the insurgents, who sustained injuries from the ensued gunfight, were captured alive by soldiers and an Armoured Personel Carrier was also seized from the insurgents. It was discovered that some of the insurgents who were killed were citizens of neighbouring Chad Republic.

One of the residents of the town, Dauda Yusuf, who spoke with Punch on the telephone at about 1pm on Wednesday from Biu, said, “Sporadic shootings made many of us shiver this morning as the military engaged the members of Boko Haram in fierce battle. “From all indications and given the severity of the fight, the insurgents perhaps wanted to add the town to the list of their captured territories.” A senior military source in Maiduguri, who spoke anonymously, said it took the gallantry of the Nigerian soldiers to repel the insurgents. The officer said that the attack had been expected and that the soldiers were prepared. He said the insurgents stormed the town in the early hours of Wednesday, shooting sporadically before the military responded and was able to repel the attack. He said the casualties could “not be given now as the military is still taking position and combing the town.”