Suspected Boko Haram insurgents overran the town of Rann in Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday evening, killing at least 10 people, injuring many and burning down several houses.
Sources say the insurgents entered the area at 6pm on Monday evening in a large convoy and attacked a military base and also burnt down several houses in Rann.
A gun battle between the attackers and troops is said to have lasted several hours.
“The situation was devastating,” said a source. “Ten people lost their lives and dozens were injured. The attackers burnt down several homes including UN hub and government structures after they gained access to the town last night. The troops got backup from Ngala this morning after they were overpowered last night. We are still working with local NGOs to provide emergency service to the victims.”
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The United Nations and international nongovernment organisations have pulled out their staff due to incessant attacks on the town in the last couple of months.
The attack comes as a blow to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to defeat the insurgency just weeks before the next round of general elections.
Nigerians will go to the poll on February 16 to elect a president who will run the affairs of Africa’s largest oil producer for the next four years.
Buhari came to power in 2015 promising to defeat Boko Haram and tackle corruption. Despite the government’s claims to have technically decimated the insurgents, series of attacks have continued. One of the attacks saw the insurgents take the town of Baga, the Nigerian headquarters of a multi-country force formed by Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger to fight the extremists, sending more than 30,000 people fleeing, even though the military last week retook the town in a counter-offensive.
