An unspecified number of soldiers and civilians is missing after an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in Baga, a Nigerian community along the fringes of Lake Chad.
Reports from different quarters said the soldiers were ambushed while trying to recover dead bodies of 40 farmers from the community killed by the terrorists. Several soldiers were killed in the gun duel that ensued.
Although the military authorities are yet to issue an official confirmation about the incident, residents said about 50 men, including civilians, a joint task force and local vigilantes, went to recover the bodies of those killed on Tuesday but only one person had returned.
“I don’t know the casualty on the side of the military as such I cannot talk about it, but the civilians include civilian joint task force members, hunters and vigilantes,” the local source told Channels Television.
But a military source quoted by Channels Television said some troops went in search of the bodies but were ambushed by the terrorists.
“There was an exchange of fire, they killed some of our soldiers. We are yet to ascertain the number because the dead bodies are yet to be collected and some soldiers are still returning to base, so we are yet to know the number of deaths,” the source said.
