Militants killed planning to attack Nigeria's Adamawa

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS

Around 70 militants have been mauled after Nigerian troops waylaid them as they prepared to attack Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa state through Askira Uba village, local and military sources have said.

"Boko Haram fighters made a spirited attempt to attack Adamawa on Friday night, but they left with huge casualties on their side," an army officer in Yola, the capital of Adamawa, told The Anadolu Agency.

"More than 70 of them were attacked," he added, noting that the event took place on Friday night.

The officer said the Nigerian army had got wind of a plan by the militants to launch simultaneous attacks across Nigeria's restive northeastern region.

He added that the army's high command consequently raised the alert across the board.

"So, when they came, we were able to rout them," the officer said on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

The attempt to raid Adamawa through Askira Uba – a town between the state and Borno state – came at the same time militants attacked Damaturu, the capital town of Yobe state, Friday night.

Earlier on Saturday, the Nigerian military confirmed that several militants  and civilians were killed in the Damaturu attack. It added that some soldiers were also wounded.

"Troops are on a mop-up operation in Damaturu after foiling attempts by terrorists to occupy parts of the town," the Defense Headquarters said in a series of tweets on Saturday.

It said the terrorists launched massive attacks from different angles on Friday night, while weapons were captured.

"Numbers of dead terrorists and civilian casualties are being compiled," the Defense Headquarters said in one of the tweets.

"Five soldiers fatally wounded and being treated," it added.