Boko Haram ambushes military convoy, kills three soldiers

Boko Haram ambushed a military convoy in Damboa, Borno State, on Thursday, killing at least three soldiers.

The attack would be the second against the military within a week as last Friday, one soldier was killed while nine others were injured when the terrorists overran a military base in Marte, near Lake Chad.

According to AFP, Thursday’s attack was targeted at an Army Commanding Officer’s convoy travelling between Damboa and Maiduguri, the state capital.

Quoting a senior military officer, AFP reported, “We lost three soldiers in the ambush by Boko Haram terrorists. The terrorists, in their large number, opened fire on the convoy of the commanding officer of 81 Battalion.

“Five other troop members were injured in the intense battle that broke out when soldiers engaged the attackers.”

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media, said the arrival of reinforcements forced the rebels to retreat.

Corroborating the officer’s account, a commercial bus driver who was also caught in the ambush, Sani Mato, said, “I was one of those trailing behind the military convoy when Boko Haram opened fire and soldiers responded with fire.

“The soldiers were able to repel the attack but lost three men. Five were also injured.