Soldiers in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno state on Tuesday said troops have battled insurgents for nine hours ( between 8:00 pm of Monday and 5:00 am of Tuesday) where they recovered armoured vehicles and some motorcycles from the terrorists.
According to soldiers not authorised to speak on the operations, but spoke in jubilation of their achievements, the engagement with the terrorists was once again a proof that, the Nigerian military is formidable enough to execute the ongoing conflict in the Northeast Nigeria.
“Many of the terrorists have fallen. They came in a daring commando-style, but we showed them that ‘Khaki no be leather’ as the saying goes. I can not tell you how many of them we have wasted but in the coming days, I believe you will be properly informed by the authorities,” Our source in the frontline said.
Speaking on the attack repelled by soldiers in Damboa, residents of the town told DAILY POST that, the insurgents have been planning to attack Damboa town, which has the highest number of Internally Displaced Persons owing to the relocation of over 20,000 people from Sabon Gari along Damboa, Biu road.
“I could recall that last year the terrorists sent a letter that they were coming to attack but they could not because of the number of military men on ground. We have about six military Generals of the rank of Major General in Damboa executing the conflict aside some Brigadier General and other top-ranking officers. This is enough encouragement for the frontline soldiers to have the most encouragement and have high spirit in fighting,” Alhaji Usman, a food vendor for some international non-governmental organisation told DAILY POST.
According to him, the insurgents might as well have their spouses or wives living in the IDP camps who are feeding them with information.
” Several times we hear rumours that the terrorists wanted to attack but for some reasons, they would not come or if they attempted, they were repelled. I think the attack yesterday, was to test the might of the soldiers on ground,” he added.
Another resident, who identified himself as Tijjani Kaumi said, “the number of soldiers currently in Damboa and Chibok local governments are enough to win the war and take over the Sambisa forest if they are willing for this conflict to come to an end. But I do not know why they are always waiting until these criminals come before they repelled them. If the terrorists had overwhelmed the troops after such unholy hours fighting, what becomes of the people here?”
DAILY POST reports that, for now, the situation in Damboa is calm and activities have resumed. There is, however, fear that the terrorists may regroup and come from fighting again in the days ahead.
