By Mustapha Buhari, Maiduguri
Nigerian troops on Friday killed 15 suspected Boko Haram insurgents attempting to attack Rann, a town hit by accidental aerial strike by the Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday.
Witnesses and security sources told DAILY NIGERIAN reporter that the attackers came in two Hilux vans at about 5pm on Thursday.
Displaying the bodies of the attackers to the visiting Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, the commanding officer of the 3 Battalion in Rann, Patrick Omoke, said one of the insurgents was captured alive.
“One Hilux vehicle was seized, while others fled with the second vehicle. We engaged them for about 30 minutes,” the commanding officer said.
According to him, some of the dead terrorists have IEDs strapped to their bodies, while others appeared like foreigners from neighbouring African nations.
Cameroon is 8 kilometers away from Rann.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, says the appearance of the slain insurgents confirms the military’s position that most of the current Boko Haram fighters are foreigners.
In his remarks, Mr. Buratai, a lieutenant-general, said he was also on operational visit to troops to understand the challenges they are facing, with a view to improving on their working condition.
