8 insurgents blow themselves up at Borno checkpoint

Troops of  the Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at a checkpoint in Gubio, Gubio Local Government  Area of Borno State, at about 9:15a.m, on Tuesday morning, foiled a suicide attack on Gubio town by  eight Boko Haram terrorists.

The suicide bombers, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, came in a Bedford Pick-Up van primed with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) including suicide vests, and attempted to force their way through the checkpoint, after emerging from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town. They, however, met a stiff resistance from troops, who insisted that the vehicle be thoroughly checked.

Acting Director Army Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said the suicide bombers resisted and blew themselves up by detonating one of the suicide vests, killing all the eight Boko Haram terrorists on board.

“The suicide bombers who came in a Bedford Pick-Up vehicle primed with Improvised Explosive Devices including suicide vests, attempted to force their way through the checkpoint but met stiff resistance from troops who insisted that the vehicle be thoroughly checked.

“It was at that point that the suicide bombers refused the search by blowing themselves up, after detonating one of the suicide vests, killing all the eight  Boko Haram terrorists on board,”  the Army spokesman said.

Meanwhile, troop of the 8 Task Force division had commenced an operartion code-named operation “Hard terrorists hiding in remote areas of northern Borno State, along Nigeria – Niger Borders”.

The Army spokesman said as the operation progresses, troop have also cleared pockets of insurgents from their hideouts in Momo and Tunshe villages around Merte General Area Borno State.

According to him, the troops rescued 19 women, and 19 children held hostage in Dumbe Village by the terrorists.

He diclosed that  during the rescue operation, the troops neutralised six Boko Haram insurgents, while others fled with gunshot wounds, leaving behind 22 motorcycles, flags and other items.