Premium Times reports that more than 100 soldiers from the 157 battalion are missing following a daring attack by Boko Haram insurgents at Gudunbali, Borno state.
One of the sources claims that the militants also seized a T-72 tank as well as numerous artillery arms from the unit.
The military source said: “Gudunbali was attacked this morning and some weapons were captured from the battalion. Two officers and 105 soldiers are still missing.
“They captured a T-72 tank from the unit and some artillery weapons were also captured. The commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion is yet to be seen but no one has been confirmed dead yet.”
Meanwhile, another source stated that the tank was found after a continued battle with the Boko Haram members. The gunner and tank commander were reportedly wounded in the process.
The terrorists reportedly took eight vehicles, a truck loaded with 60,000 rounds of AA ammunition and three weaponry pieces.
In a related development, troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) positioned at Baga, Borno state was also recently attacked.
The onslaught happened in Geringiwa at about four kilometres to the headquarters of the force.
According to reports, lack of firepower has hindered the army’s efforts to fully clear the terrorists from Baga and nearby towns due to.
The source said the equipment recently given to the army hierarchy was inadequate and were not enough to go round to all units engaged in the war against the insurgency.
In a series of mass killings in Baga in the beginning of the year more than 2000 people were killed according to media sources. However, army said that there were far less casualties.
Though the army later liberated the town, the troops positioned in the region have come under continuous attacks from the Boko Haram sect.
The attacks on the army came on the heels of the suicide attacks on Yola and Kano correspondingly.
The Nigerian army recently has claimed series of victories over the militants.
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