Again, Nigerian Army Repels Boko Haram's Fresh Advance Towards Maiduguri

SAN FRANCISCO, September 26, (THEWILL) - A fresh attempt by rampaging Boko Haram gunmen to advance towards Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been scuttled by the Nigerian Army.

The insurgents who reportedly suffered heavy casualties again in their renewed bid were said to have engaged the military Thursday afternoon in Benesheikh, 75 kilometres to Maiduguri from the West. They also attempted to march on Konduga, situated about 40 kilometres from Maiduguri to the east, Thursday evening and early Friday without success, as they were forced to beat a retreat by the military.

In Benesheikh on Thursday, the insurgents were said to have blocked the highway with the aim of killing unsuspecting passengers before been successfully repelled by the vigilant soldiers while they suffered heavy casualties in Konduga, forcing them to retreat. A civil servant, Mallam Hussaini Musa, who passed through Benesheikh along the Maiduguri – Damaturu road on Friday, disclosed to THEWILL that five corpses were dumped by the roadside which local residents confirmed as those of the insurgents.

“From what I leant, soldiers from the outskirts of Benesheikh and others from Auno intervened and averted what would have been a major onslaught,” he said.

Another local resident said the terrorists fled through the village and killed some persons in the process but this could not be officially confirmed when filing this story.