Borno: Military, Civilian JTF Repel Boko Haram's Fresh Push

BEVERLY HILLS, July 04, (THEWILL) –  A joint effort by the military and Borno local vigilante group, the Civilian JTF, Friday night, forced the insurgents to beat a retreat from their push to attack two towns in the state, namely Jere and Bama. Disclosing this Saturday morning, a security operative who craved anonymity, said the insurgents were actually heading for Maiduguri, the state capital, before they were repelled.

Describing the movement of the insurgents, he said they were advancing from Koshebe village in Mafa town, which is about seven kilometres towards Zabarmari in Jere Local Government Area before military personnel who engaged them in heavy gun duel forced them to beat a retreat.

A local resident, Abba Yunus, while giving an account of the deadly encounter, said the reinforcement from the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri helped a great deal in repelling the insurgents.

According to Yunus, some Civilian JTF members had to convey those injured in the encounter to hospital in their vehicles.

Confirming the attacks on Saturday, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, said the insurgents did attack Zabamari village, near Dusuman village in Jere Local Government Area at about 18:55hrs on Friday.

According to Opadokun, “Six (6) female suicide bombers detonated IEDs on their bodies while trying to infiltrate Maiduguri via Muna garage on Mafa/Dikwa road, killing themselves and many others.”

The Police Commissioner added that 21 other persons were injured in the attack.