By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Eight soldiers and 25 Boko Haram fighters were killed in two separate encounters in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state on Sunday as government troops intensified operations to clear the insurgency from the region, according to the military.
In the first incident, army spokesman Sani Usman said four soldiers, including an officer died, while 16 others were injured after they ran into mines planted by militants between Miyanti and Dareljamal villages in Borno. Three members of the local vigilante group were also injured in the incident that was preceded by an ambush.
“The ambush was cleared and three Boko Haram terrorists were killed by the troops. They also recovered a machine gun, one AK-47 rifle and some quantity of ammunition,” Usman said in a statement late Sunday.
Separately on Sunday, Usman said four soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on troops’ position in Logomani area of the state.
“Our troops fought gallantly and repelled the attack which lasted for about one hour. At the end of the fierce encounter, the troops counted 22 dead bodies of Boko Haram fighters,” the spokesman said.
He said troops also recovered two AK-47s, one FN, one G3 and some 36 hand grenades.
“Unfortunately, we lost four soldiers and their rifles as a result of the effect of Boko Haram use of Rocket Propelled Grenades, while two soldiers were also wounded in action,” he added.
The insurgency in northeastern Borno has claimed tens of thousands of lives, brought communities to ruin as well as displaced over two million people, resulting in devastating humanitarian crisis that both Nigeria and various relief agencies are battling to address.