Nigeria Army troops of the 145 Battalion are currently embroiled in a heavy exchange of gun fire with Boko haram fighters who invaded the military base in Damasak around 6pm.
A military source stated that the gun battle ensued as the Boko haram terrorist attempted to overrun a Nigerian military unit but met with stiff resistance put up by Nigerian troops in the town.
Nigeria Army spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, who confirmed the attack, said fighting was currently ongoing and Nigerian troops were dealing with the terrorists.
The latest attack comes just days after Boko haram insurgents overran the strategic town of Gudumbali after several hours of intense gunfire between both parties. Nigeria Army personnel however took back the town after 48 hours in a fierce battle which left at last 20 Islamic State fighters amongst the rank and file of Boko haram dead.
The attack had prompted military chiefs including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai to scramble to the command centre of the theatre of military operations in Maiduguri to personally oversee the recapture of the strategic town.
Upon recapture the chief of Army staff personally led visited Gudumbali after last week’s attack on military locations in the area led the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole and other principal officers to Gudumbali after it was recaptured.
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The visit of the Army Chief, who has been assessing military formations and armaments in Northern Borno, was also intended to build the confidence of the locals and troops in the troubled areas.
As the Nigerian government continue to deny the resurgence of the Boko haram insurgents boosted by Islamic State fighters who are more experienced in urban and insurgency warfare against some of the best armies in the world.
This coupled with several successful raid and capture of Nigeria military equipment has bolstered the successes of the terrorist group. According to the UN, the ransom money paid by the Nigerian government to Boko haram to secure the release of kidnapped secondary school girls also helped the insurgents stabilise and consolidate for renewed onslaught against the Nigerian Government.
The Nigerian Government however rejected the claim saying it did not pay a dime for the release of the girls despite leaving one behind – leah sharibu who was reportdly held back on account of her religion; Christianity