There was pandemonium on Saturday evening in Yobe State as fleeing members of the deadly Boko Haram sect struck at Kanama, headquarters of Yunusari Local Government killing about five soldiers.
Thirty soldiers are also allegedly missing in the dastardly attack launched on Nigeria troops at the remote northern town in Yobe State.
The Army have confirmed the attack but however denied to have incurred any casualty in the attack.
Credible security and medical sources however confided in newsmen that about five soldiers were found dead and evacuated to Maiduguri via Damaturu.
The source also disclosed that 30 soldiers are still missing in the aftermath of the attack.
Some Kanama residents who also confirmed the death of soldiers said they sighted a military ambulance evacuating victims but they were chased away by soldiers in an attempt to get closer to the scene.
Some commercials drivers along Geidam/Gashua/Damaturu road also confirmed sighting some military ambulances with military escorts coming from the Kanama axis on Sunday morning apparently conveying dead or wounded soldiers.
An eyewitness, Modu Lawan informed newsmen that the insurgents stormed the village with seven Hilux vans dressed in full military attire.
“We thought they were soldiers because everything about them was like soldiers, their dressing, their vehicles everything. They passed through the town but did not touch anybody. They went straight to the military based and we started hearing serious gunshots,” Lawan said.
Hon Ali Yerima, the Chairman Yunusari Local Government said he could not confirm any casualty in the attack but was however confident that the insurgents did not attack any civilian in the town.
“The information I got is that the insurgents were loaded in seven hilux trucks. They passed through the town to attack the military base. My sources informed me that no civilian was attack, only the military base was attacked but I also gathered that the soldiers fought very well to repel their adversaries,” Ali Yerima said.
The chairman also informed that the movement of the insurgents through the town caused panic and fear among residents who ran in different directions for safety of their lives.
An impeccable security source informed that the insurgents are fleeing from the heat in Borno State.
“There has been a serious heat on the insurgents from Borno axis. You notice there was a fighter jet hovering over Borno and Yobe. There is tremendous coordinated ground and air attacks on the insurgents lately so they don’t jeopardize the yultide celebrations,” the source said.
Col. Kayode Ogunsanya, the spokesman for 3 Division Nigeria Army in a short text message confirming the attack said: “Yes there was an attack on own troops 2 days ago by the Boko Haram terrorists in Kanama. The attack was repelled and our soldiers are in hot pursuit of the insurgents. Happy New year my broda”.
