Senator Ndume Mourns Soldiers and Civilians Killed in Boko Haram Clash in Northeast Nigeria

By Ado Sadauki

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in Nigeria’s Senate, has expressed condolences to the military, local vigilante forces and families of civilians killed during a confrontation with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in Sabon Gari village, in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

In a statement, Mr. Ndume described the deaths as a tragic loss, saying those killed had paid “the supreme price” while contributing to efforts to restore peace and security in the region, which has been plagued by an Islamist insurgency for more than a decade.

The senator also extended his sympathies to residents of Harang and nearby communities in Hawul Local Government Area, where militants recently carried out an attack that left one person dead and several homes destroyed, according to local accounts.

Nigeria’s military said the clashes in Sabon Gari occurred during an operation by troops of the North East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai.

Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the force’s spokesman, said dozens of ISWAP fighters were killed and weapons and ammunition were recovered during the fighting.

He added, however, that the operation also resulted in the deaths of soldiers from Sector Two, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and civilians.

Many of the civilians killed were identified as indigenes of Biu who were working as casual laborers on the Wajiroko Bridge project along the Biu–Maiduguri–Damboa highway, a key route that has previously been targeted by insurgents.