By Peter Omopo
An officer and a soldier of the Nigerian Army were killed in the early hours of Wednesday during a fierce battle with Boko Haram insurgents in Izge community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the incident in an interview with Channels Television, revealing that the terrorists stormed the farming settlement around 1 a.m., firing sporadically in a surprise midnight raid.
Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces, supported by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, local hunters, and vigilante groups, responded swiftly and repelled the attackers after a gun duel.
According to the Emir, three Boko Haram fighters were neutralised in the operation, while the military recovered several motorcycles, bicycles, a vehicle used by the insurgents, and a sophisticated firearm.
He commended the bravery and synergy among the security forces and local defenders, praising the resilience of the Izge community.
Timta also expressed grief over the loss of the army personnel and called on the Federal Government to urgently step up efforts to curb resurging insurgent attacks, especially as the farming season approaches.
