20 insurgents killed as soldiers repel fresh attack in Dusuman

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Security forces and members of the youth volunteers on Wednesday afternoon repelled a fresh attack launched by the dreaded Boko Haram members, in Dusuman village, an ouskirt of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, killing 20 insurgents.

Dusuman, is under Jere local government area of the state and is about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri.

This came barely three days after the military repelled other deadly attacks by the militants, who attempted to capture the town.

It was gathered that the latest incident occurred around 2pm, when over 50, insurgents, armed with assault rifles, driven on several bikes and a pick-up van stormed the village and fired sporadic shots in the crowd.

Though the troops deployed for the counter-insurgency in the area and the youth vigilante, repelled the onslaught, the militants wounded several civilians.

A resident of the area, who declined identification, said they just finished observing Zuhr prayers, when they suddenly heard sporadic gunshots from different directions.

“The attackers took us unawares because we had not experienced this episode for the past three years. We just finished prayers when everyone was terrified by endless sounds of gunshots, leading to serious pandemonium. But thank God that the federal troops deployed to the area mobolised the youth volunteers, who quickly engaged the invaders in a fierce battle.

At the end of the encounter, 10 civilians sustained gunshot injuries, while 20 militants were killed, while several others escaped with injuries”, the resident said.

A member of the youth vigilante who participated in the encounter, Ba’ana Kura told our correspondent that it took them less than an hour to push the insurgents out of the area, killing 20.

Spokesman for the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Col. Sani Usman could not be reached for comment as at press time.