At least two soldiers, the son of a village head, and two commanders of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed in a Boko Haram ambush on a military convoy along the Dikwa-New Marte road in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to Vanguard, the attack occurred on Monday but was only reported later due to poor telecommunication networks in the area.
The ambush is part of a resurgence in Boko Haram attacks, coming just days after suspected terrorists slaughtered farmers in Ashigashiya village in Gwoza Local Government Area, near the Mandara Mountains bordering Cameroon.
Former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), condemned the renewed violence, particularly against local farmers who have returned to their communities after being displaced for over a decade.
According to sources, the chairman and overall commander of the CJTF in Marte and New Marte were among those killed in the attack.
Many others sustained injuries and were later evacuated to a hospital in Maiduguri for treatment.
“Boko Haram terrorists laid an ambush and killed two soldiers, two members of the CJTF, and the son of the Village Head in Marte, Mai Musenima,” a source confirmed.
The victims were providing security for ongoing road clearance operations along the Dikwa-Marte road.
While the bodies of the deceased soldiers were transported for military procedures, the other victims were buried according to Islamic rites in Marte.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful at press time.
