Forty one members suspected members of the Boko Haram sect were reportedly killed by Nigerian security forces with support from youth vigilantes, also known as ‘Civilian JTF’ in a fierce encounter in a village near Biu town in Borno State, witnesses said yesterday.
It was gathered that the insurgents met their waterloo when they made fruitless attempts to attack the returning people of Sabon Gari in Damboa local government area of Borno State who fled their homes over two months ago.
One of the sources said there was a tip-off that the terrorists were planning to attack Sabon Gari when hapless locals were barely returning, but a combined team of the military and vigilantes pursued them to Gur area around Mandafuma village.
Vigilante member Umar Hassan said: “We engaged the Boko Haram fighters in a battle which lasted for about two hours and 41 of them were killed,” adding that they even beheaded the insurgents and took the heads to Biu town for the people to see.
