Premium Times reported that the affected soldiers who were attached to the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte Local Government Council of the state, were caught by surprise during the attack which occurred by 10am on Monday February 15.
It was gathered that they put up a strong fight to defend their base and ward off the insurgents, but were overwhelmed “because they could not withstand the superior firepower of the terrorists”.
Military insiders reportedly said Monday’s attack on Marte Local Government by the extremist Boko Haram group makes it the third onslaught in the area in a month.
The terrorists had ambushed soldiers at the location on January 10 and 15. The casualty rates from those attacks are unknown.
The unit, which was totally dislodged, has now been moved to Dikwa, another local government area, a development that has now opened up Marte to further attacks. To this end, the army authorities have allegedly issued advisories to troops in Sector 3 (especially those in Baga, Cross Kauwa, Kekeno and Monguno and the areas surrounding Marte) to be on red alert.
