Nigeria: Fighter jets pound B’Haram locations in Monguno, Borno State

Gunshots boomed again in Monguno, Borno State on Monday as   troops, backed by fighter jets, launched a major offensive to recapture the city from militant islamist sect, Boko Haram.

“The operation resumed on Monguno this (Monday) morning through air bombardment to dislodge the insurgents,” a Defence Headquarters source told Reuters news agency.

The source made this known as the death toll from the foiled bid by the sect to capture Maiduguri is believed to have risen from 65 to 100.

The sect had launched simultaneous attacks on Maiduguri, Monguno, Kodunga and Gubio on Sunday. While its fighters were repelled in Maiduguri, Gubio and Kodunga, they overran Monguno after soldiers who engaged them in gun battle retreated.

A military barracks in the city was seized and the Brigade commander wounded by the insurgents.

The Defence Headquarters, in one of its tweets on Monday, said the troops inflicted more casualties on fleeing insurgents while military locations in Maiduguri and Konduga were reinforced.

It further stated that the troops captured a large number of heavy military hardware from the insurgents.

The tweet read, “Our forces recorded some casualties. Meanwhile, ground troops are in charge and Air Force patrol on going at Maiduguri and Konduga.

“Substantial amount of heavy weapons have been captured as more terrorists died in the fight which lasted till early Monday morning.”