Nigerian Army have launched an operation to recapture Gwoza border town in Borno State from Boko Haram fighters on August 14, 2014, Wednesday. However, as the battled raged, the Islamists have stiсken in another direction, killing 20 people in Doro Baga, Kukawa local government area of Borno State.
An undisclosed military source from Abuja informed SaharaReporters that the troops were sent on a mission to liberate the town. The soldiers were mostly drafted from Mubi, Adamawa State, and the capital city of Borno, Maiduguri.
The officer noted that the operation is being supported by Air Force units and Special Forces, adding even more confidence to the commanders of neutralising all the insurgents in the area in the coming hours or days.
“Over 1000 soldiers are involved in this operation to take Gwoza back from Boko Haram,” the military source said.
However, some of the soldiers, who spoke on conditions of anonymity with the newsmen, pointed out that tactical errors and lack of comminication capabilites of army’s armoured vehicles were the root of previous defeat in Gwoza.
“The front tank suddenly turned back when its weaponry malfunctioned,” a soldier said, adding that troops decided to retreat unable to figure out the reason for the sudden turn around, while it should have been better to position the three other tanks behind to engage Boko Haram fighters