At least eight civilians were believed to have been killed while thousands of others fled to neighbouring towns after Boko Haram launched an attack on a military base in Gudumbali, Borno State.
Scores of insurgents in gun trucks and various calibre of arms stormed the town and engaged in fierce battle that lasted for many hours with the troops.
The fighters were said to be with the Boko Haram faction under the leadership of Abu-Mosad Al-Barnawi.
An official of the Guzamala Local Government Area, of which Gudumbali is the headquarters, told AFP that troops had been pushed out of the town and Boko Haram was in “full control”.
A military source in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, said the attack began at about 7:50 pm on Friday and lasted until the early hours of Saturday, “when troops were forced to withdraw”.
Local civilian militia member Musa Ari said: “So far eight civilians, who were errand boys for troops, were believed to have been killed in the attack.”
But “most civilians were spared because the attack was targeted at the military base”, he added.
The Nigerian Army, however, said it repelled the attack.
Abdul Bari, another local in the area, told NAN that the insurgents assured that they did not come with intention to kill civilians.
“Their target was the military and not civilians. This is what they told us as they ask us to get out of their sight within a blink of an eye. The insurgents were fully kitted with khaki and covered their faces.
“After one minute, they began shooting from the gun truck facing the military location. There were sounds of sporadic gunshots from many directions. I don’t know what happened but the army was engaging with the terrorists,” he said.
Deputy Governor Mamman Durkwa, who confirmed the development, said security forces were on top of the situation.
“It is unfortunate to confirm to you that there was an attack by Boko Haram extremists on a military base and other communities of Gudumbali.
“Thousands of the people who were displaced and spent some years in resettlement camps in Maiduguri have returned back recently after the liberation of those surrounding communities by our gallant security forces.
“I regret to inform you that there was another attack by insurgents in Gudumbali, but I am yet to get the number of casualties.
“I just spoke with the Police Commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, and the Brigade Commander in Monguno, both confirmed to me that the attack actually took place, and our security forces were on top of the situation,” Durkwa said.
Army Director of Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, who confirmed the attack on the phone, said the troops had promptly repelled the attack and restored sanity in the area.
“I can confirm that there was an attack in Gudumbali, but the situation was brought under control contrary to the report that the Boko Haram had taken total control of the area,” he said.
