Report by Abubakar Muhammad (9News Nigeria – Borno)
Nigerian troops have killed dozens of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in fresh clashes in the North-East, with footage obtained by 9News Nigeria showing the aftermath of a military operation identified as taking place in Buni Yadi, Yobe State.
The amateur video was obtained from military sources in Borno by 9News Nigeria’s North-East correspondent. According to the correspondent, it shows soldiers gathering the bodies of insurgents killed during the operation.
The caption accompanying the footage reads: “Following the onslaught on Boko-Haram terrorists by the military in Buni Yadi on Saturday, these are some of the casualties.”
The account comes amid renewed fighting around military positions in Borno and neighbouring Yobe State, where troops of Operation Hadin Kai have been confronting attacks by the two insurgent groups.
In a statement issued on Friday, the military said troops killed 48 fighters while repelling attacks on positions in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, and the North-East Theatre Training School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. The statement placed those engagements between October 29 and 30.
The Saturday operation described in the caption supplied to 9News Nigeria has not been established as a separate engagement from the fighting covered by that statement. The footage therefore does not provide a basis for adding another casualty figure to the military’s announced toll.
The latest clashes follow a rise in attacks on military positions across the North-East, where Nigerian forces continue operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP. Troops received air support during the engagements reported by the military on Friday.
