At least 20 people have been killed, including 16 Boko Haram members, when the insurgents attempted to attack a military base in the southern part of Borno State Sunday evening, sources confirmed.

The attackers, it was gathered, came around 1640hrs into Damboa town, headquarters of Damboa LGA of the state, and opened fire killing four displaced persons. More than 10 others were wounded in the ensuing crossfire.

A top security source disclosed that the insurgents launched an attack on the military base but they met swift response and 16 of them were neutralized.

The source added that the gun battle lasted for about three hours and the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole provided support to the ground troops against the insurgents.

“I can confidently tell you that there were no casualties on our side. Both the Air Task Force and ground troops did a great job,” the top security source said.

A member of the vigilante group in Damboa, Hamisu Bakura, said via phone call that “Boko Haram came with more than 20 gun trucks, and they were just shooting anyhow.”

“Everybody was running and three displaced persons were caught in the crossfire and got killed. One other lost his life in hospital so we lost four persons but we are happy that many of them (Boko Haram) were killed. As we speak now there is a celebration in Damboa. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Trust)

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