Update: Gallant troops repel attack on Gubio

Information received by The Humanitarian Times indicates that troops of the Nigerian military had yesterday successfully repelled an attempted attack on their base and loss was recorded.

A source in Gubio, Malam Mustapha, who had earlier confirmed the attack to The Humanitarian Times, said the attackers had to retreat upon seeing the battle-ready troops’ intimidating formation.

“From where we were hiding, we saw the Boko Haram guys fleeing as soldiers engaged them in a shootout,” he said.

“We are now back home after hours of being in the bush.”

A soldier from the frontline, in Gubio, sent a text message to his colleague in Maiduguri conforming to the repelled attack. The ⅝He said they had not recorded any loss of personnel or equipment.

“…The bastards came to attack us today at about 1330hrs in Gubio. To God be the glory we have successful rappelled the attack. Men and equipment all intact…“

The insurgents had since April scaled up their attacks on military formation, dislodging ill-equipped garrisons and carting away some weapons. The insurgents had also hoisted flags in some of the attacked communities before they were later dislodged.

Already in its 12th year, the Boko Haram insurgency continues to defy most measures to curb its violence. The Nigerian government had in 2021 budgeted N100 billion for the war against terrorism in northeast Nigeria alone. Similar budgetary provisions have been made in the past, yet troops still struggle to confront a rag-tag Boko Haram.