Nigeria: 19 soldiers feared killed in terrorist ambush

By Olarewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Some 19 soldiers are feared killed in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in northeastern Nigeria, according to local media.

A special forces team on a counter-terrorism operation along the volatile Mngliaiduguri-Damboa road in Borno state was ambushed by the terror group Boko Haram on Tuesday afternoon, local media reported.

The attack led to the loss of 19 military forces, leading Nigerian dailies The Sun and Daily Trust reported, quoting military sources.

The attack was not immediately known in Maiduguri, the state capital, some 89 kilometers (55 miles) away until midday Wednesday due to a breakdown in telecommunication services following over a decade of terrorism in the area.

"Regrettably, two valiant soldiers paid the ultimate price, while four others were wounded in action," said Maj. Gen. John Enenche, a military spokesman.

He also said the military killed 17 terrorists and wounded several others.

After launching its first terror attack in the country's vast northeast region in 2009, Boko Haram has continued to attack military troops and civilians in the area.