An unspecified number of Nigerian military personnel are reported missing following an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, near the Lake Chad region.
Sources within the armed forces, speaking anonymously to Channels Television, revealed that the soldiers were ambushed while attempting to recover the bodies of 40 residents killed by the insurgents. A fierce gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of several soldiers.
“Our troops went in search of dead bodies of civilians killed by the terrorists, we went too far in search of them and the terrorists played ambush on us. A combined team of the armed forces including civilians.
“There was exchange of fire, they killed some of our soldiers. We are yet to ascertain the number because the dead bodies are yet to be collected and some soldiers are still returning to base, so we are yet to know the number of deaths,” the military source said.
Another civilian source in Baga said about 50 civilians went to recover dead bodies of those killed yesterday but only one person has return so far.
The source said the 50 men include civilian joint taskforce, local hunters and some other young men.
“About 50 villagers mobilized and went out to recover the dead bodies of the villagers that were killed by Boko Haram terrorists and then the terrorists ambushed them. They killed several people, but we don’t know the number yet because one person has return to the village, we are awaiting others.
“I don’t know the casualty on the side of the military as such I cannot talk about it, but the civilians include civilian joint taskforce members, hunters and vigilantes,” the local source said.
The incident in Baga occurred on Tuesday following an attack that claimed the lives of 40 residents.
In a separate attack in Gwoza, six individuals lost their lives, including five reportedly identified as repentant insurgents, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, and local hunters.