Two officers and five soldiers were killed on Friday December 3, when operatives of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) engaged Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who infiltrated Kala Balge town in Borno State.
Army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who confirmed the death added that three other members of the Sector 1 Joint Task Force(JTF) North East(NE) were injured in the attack.
Onyema revealed that the troops neutralized scores of the terrorists who came on gun trucks and motorcycles. He added that the insurgents attacked troops deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) Rann, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon.
He said; “Troops gallantly engaged the marauding terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their mission and withdraw in disarray.
“In the fierce battle for Kala Balge, troops defended the town and neutralized 26 BH/ISWAP terrorists.
“Regrettably, two officers and five soldiers paid the supreme price, while three personnel who sustained gunshot wounds are currently receiving medical attention.”
Onyema added that the gallant troops also captured terrorists’ combat vehicles, 18 AK 47 rifles and one M-21 rifle with a large quantity of ammunition. Several other equipment were also destroyed by troops.