Army kills 100 insurgents, captures armoured vehicle

Nigerian military intelligence officials yesterday expressed surprise at the sophisticated weapons being used by the Boko Haram insurgents. The reaction came after Nigerian troops captured a T-55 armoured tank and a highly sophisticate Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC from the Islamist insurgents in a heavy fire battle at Konduga, the second biggest town in Borno State.
The sources said Boko Haram fighters made another big and desperate push to take Konduga, a town that has been the scene of incessant battles and disastrous outings for Boko Haram fighters in recent weeks.
The military began the latest push last Thursday, attacking Konduga from several angles. But when they found out they were getting defeated, some of the Islamist fighters arrived at the scene of battle from the Bama axis with a surprise weapon, a T-55 tank.
Military sources disclosed that the insurgents had never previously used such a mammoth weapon in battle. The tank and APC were eventually captured from the insurgents by the gallant Nigerian soldiers after a fierce battle in which soldiers killed more than 100 Boko Haram terrorists.
About 15 soldiers were also killed during the firefight that lasted several hours.
The Nigerian army said the seizure of the tank was a major blow to the insurgents.