Troops Retake Ngoshe in Borno After Deadly Boko Haram Assault
Nigerian troops have regained control of their forward operating base in Ngoshe town, located in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, after launching a coordinated operation against insurgents.
The mission was carried out by the Nigerian military alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), as well as local vigilante groups and hunters.
The development comes days after militants from Boko Haram attacked the area, reportedly killing 14 soldiers and several civilians.
During that assault, more than 100 women and children were also abducted by the insurgents.
According to a military source, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) had earlier visited Pulka on Friday and deployed about 200 troops into Ngoshe, which had been largely deserted following the attack. After assessing the security situation, the GOC departed, leaving around 60 soldiers behind in the town.
However, the troops later withdrew to Pulka after noticing movements suggesting a large number of insurgents were preparing a possible counter-attack.
The source explained that the brigade commander in Gwoza later met with the troops in Pulka and assured them of reinforcement.
By Wednesday, security forces returned to Ngoshe and engaged the remaining insurgents in a gun battle, eventually reclaiming the town.
He added that the military now has full control of Ngoshe.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, earlier summoned Nigeria’s Service Chiefs to Abuja following renewed insurgent attacks in parts of Borno State.
Reports indicate that at least three commanding officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel have recently been killed by terrorists in the state. In addition to those officers, several soldiers also lost their lives in separate incidents, while many civilians abducted by insurgents remain in captivity.
Speaking before the meeting moved into a closed session, Musa said the military leadership had resolved to reassess and strengthen its strategies to intensify operations against terrorist groups.
He acknowledged that security forces had suffered casualties but stressed that insurgents had recorded greater losses.
