Twenty six Boko Haram terrorists were killed by Nigerian troops on Saturday, hours after they killed at least six soldiers in an ambush in Yobe State.
But military authorities in Yobe said only one soldier was killed and another one injured.
Credible sources said the soldiers were on their way for an induction ahead of their deployment to the battle fields in the North East when the terrorists laid siege on the highway.
It was learnt that the terrorists ambushed the troops at Gonan Kaji, a village in Gujba Local Government Area along the Damaturu- Biu Road.
One of the sources said six soldiers died at the spot of the ambush and many others injured.
“The terrorists attacked our troops who were heading towards Buni Yadi and then retreated towards the dreaded Alagarno village,” he said.
The Nigerian Army under “Operation Tura Takai Bango” confirmed that troops deployed soon after the ambush killed 28 terrorists.
In a statement by its acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier- General Benard Onyeuko, noted that soldiers from headquarter and those from 27 Task Force Brigade, Buni Gari, and other from Special Forces Training School, Buni Yadi, repelled the attack.
“The soldiers tactically out-manoeuvred the criminals and engaged them with superior fire power resulting in high casualty on the terrorists.“
In the same vein, one Boko Haram gun truck was destroyed with its occupants while another gun truck was captured from the fleeing criminals.
Other equipment captured from the criminals include: 2 Anti -Aircraft guns, 13 AK 47 Rifles, 4 extra magazines and a vulcanizing machine.
“Regrettably, one gallant soldier paid the supreme price while one other soldier was wounded during the encounter,” he said.
First Published in Daily Trust