By Olayemisi Abdul
About 20 civilians and a soldier were killed during an attack early this morning, on Monguno military barracks in Borno state, witnesses and military officials said.
Sources said the gunmen who used several explosives during the attack had earlier killed a popular village head, Lawan Kafu, 65, when they invaded his village, Baderi in Marte local council on Saturday night before proceeding to Monguno.
‘They came in five four-wheel driven cars to the palace of the village head, and when he opened his door to receive them, thinking they were his guests. they opened fire on him. One of their vehicles was later found broken down in Gaduram village on their way to Monguno’, a resident who craved for anonymity told journalists on phone.
A source in Monguno military barrack confirmed to journalits on phone one soldier and several of the attackers believed to be Boko Haram were killed in an exchange of fire.
Public Relations Officer of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) Lt Col Sagir Musa confirmed in an email statement that 20 of the Boko Haram were killed and a cache of arms including three vehicles were recovered.
‘Information available to the Joint Task Force, OPERATION RESTORE ORDER indicated that some Boko Haram Terrorists attempted to attack a Military Barracks at Monguno, Monguno Local Government Area, Borno State at about 5 am today Sunday 3 March, 2013’, his statement read.
‘Monguno is about 200 kilometers away from Maiduguri and about 2 hours drive. The attack was repelled by the FOB’s and JTF troops at the outskirt of the barracks. The encounter led to the death of 20 Boko Haram Terrorists, 3 four wheel vehicles and 8 motor cycles used by the terrorists were destroyed.
The following items were also recovered: 7 AK47 Rifles; 10 Rocket Propelled Grenade; 2 RPG Tube; Large quantity of assorted Ammunitions; 8 assorted Magazines.
‘In a related development, based on intelligence, a special operation was conducted by the JTF which resulted to the arrest of 2 high profile Boko HaramCommanders that were responsible for the explosions in Maiduguri on Thursday 28 February, 2013 during some State Governors meeting in the State. Those arrested are in JTF custody undergoing interrogation’, said Lt Col Sagir.
