Six Nigerian soldiers have lost their lives after some terrorists attacked a military base in Auno, near Maiduguri in Borno State.
Forty-five soldiers are also unaccounted for after the attack on the military base.
Insurgents belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed the military base in machine-gun fitted trucks and attacked the base, sources quoted by AFP on Sunday disclosed.
The fighters attacked the base in Auno, a village that is 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, it was learnt.
“We lost six soldiers in the attacks which the terrorists launched around 6:30 pm (1730 GMT), on Saturday,” a military officer said.
The terrorists engaged the troops in almost two hours of fierce gun battle during which the casualty was inflicted.
The insurgents also looted weapons and burnt buildings before they were overpowered following the arrival of aerial support for the troops, the sources said.
“A search is ongoing for 45 soldiers who are still unaccounted for but we assume they escaped during the attack and are yet to return,” the second source said.
The Army refused to comment on the development.
Not less than 36,000 people have been killed while another 1.8 million have been displaced from their homes in northeast Nigeria since the insurgents started attacking the area about ten years ago.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, says 1, 429 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed and 116 others arrested.
Buratai said this on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while addressing journalists after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the troops in the theatre of war.
