Gujba: Troops repel attack as Boko Haram burns school, health centre

Troops of the recently-launched Operation Tura Ta Kai Bango (we have been pushed to the wall) have repelled a Boko Haram attack on Gujba town, 30 kilometres away from the Yobe State capital, Damaturu.

Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Benard Onyeuko disclosed that 28 Boko Haram terrorists were eliminated by troops of Operation Tura Ta Kai Bango, which is a subsidiary of Operation Lafiya Dole.

In a Sunday statement, the defence spokesman said that the troops identified and encircled an ambush site and engaged the terrorists with superior fire power.

According to residents of the town, Boko Haram terrorists in their numbers stormed the community on Saturday at 2:30 pm and started to shoot sporadically.

The residents who later spoke to journalists on phone said they fled the community upon hearing the heavy gunfire.

They confirmed that the terrorists operated for around three hours, burning down a school, a health centre and some materials meant for the ongoing construction of the town.

However, the residents said that gallant troops of the Nigerian Army blocked the way to Katarko to stop the insurgents from making further inroad into Gujba town.

This, the residents said, led to a hot exchange of gunfire between the troops and the insurgents, who later retreated after an hour of confronting the troops.

Three days earlier, Boko Haram attacked Geidam town, also in Yobe State, where they set some buildings ablaze and looted stores.

Reacting to the Gujba town attack, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni hailed the troops for repelling the insurgents.

The governor hinged the success on the determination of the troops, noting that it would give the soldiers impetus in the counterinsurgency operations in the North-East.

Buni charged residents to assist troops by secretly reporting terrorist activities and suspicious movements in their communities to the authorities for prompt action.