An unspecified number of residents of Rann in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State were feared killed when insurgents suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists attacked the small town on Thursday night.

It was gathered that the insurgents, some of whom carried anti-aircraft missiles, drove into the town, about 170 kilometres to Maiduguri, in many attack vehicles shooting indiscriminately and destroying property.

Reliable military sources said the residents had been thrown into confusion with many dislodged from their homes before the military intervened and pushed back the attackers amid heavy gunfire.

“They stormed Kala Balge shooting randomly and engaging our men in a fierce battle. Although they successfully invaded some parts of the town and opened fire on many people, our men were on top of the situation.

“Our people should be able to tell us how many on both sides were taken out by Friday. I cannot tell you the exact figure now,” a source said.

It was learnt that the insurgents opened fire from different locations in the town, causing people to run for dear lives but get caught in the line of fire.

Army spokesman, Brigadier-General Sani Usman, confirmed the attack to Saturday Tribune on telephone but said the army formation in Rann successfully forced back the assault.

Many of the residents who fled into nearby bushes to escape the attack were helped out by a military helicopter early Friday.

Since insurgents attacked Rann early this year and the Nigerian Air Force, in an attempted counter-attack, mistakenly bombed the Internally Displaced People (IDP) there, very little assistance has come to the town.

Rann, like some other Lake Chad capitals, is seen as a most vulnerable council area in the ongoing insurgency as it remains surrounded by insurgents.

Meanwhile, soldiers have fought off attempts by Boko Haram fighters to overrun two army bases in the North East, security sources told AFP on Friday, in the latest attacks to hit the region.

•Excerpted from a Tribune report

Update news