Ceasefire deal collapses: Soldiers Kill 25 Boko Haram top Men

It is never an easy task to make peace with a bunch of terrorists. Despite claims of a ceasefire between the Nigerian government and extremist sect, Boko Haram, Nigerian soldiers on Sunday night shot dead 25 members of the dreaded sect during an attack on Damboa town of Borno state.

This was disclosed by security officials. The attack on Damboa crystallized the doubts that thousands of Nigerians expressed over the announced ceasefire deal FG said it signed on Friday with Boko Haram. More after the cut...

An official of a local vigilante group, Muhammad Gava, who confirmed the attack, said:

“My members of the vigilante group in Damboa had informed me early this morning that the attack was repelled and more than two dozen of them were killed, said Mr. Gava. 

“The gunmen, according to our Vigilante members in Damboa, came from the direction of Sambisa forest and driving several pickup vans and some military-like armoured personnel carriers”.

He spoke to Premium Times on the phone.

Also, an official of the State Security Services confirmed the incident but pleaded not to be quoted as his superiors at Maiduguri office had prohibited him and other officers from speaking to the media.

“There was an attack on Damboa yesterday and our soldiers had effectively repelled them and killed 25 of them during a shootout.

“The soldiers were able to recover several ammunition including a Buffalo Armoured Personnel Carrier which the terrorists abandoned,” the SSS official said.

According to reports, Boko Haram on July 17 hoisted their flags in Damboa after a deadly gun battle that killed several soldiers and a Lieutenant Colonel commanding the military base in Damboa.

Damboa is 85km away from Maiduguri, Borno state capital. It also shares borders with Sambissa forest the location believed to be Boko Haram's largest training camp.