soldiers repel Boko Haram attack on Biu, kill 40 insurgents.

The Nigerian Army yesterday waded off an attempt by
Boko Haram insurgents to take over Biu, the largest
town in southern Borno which is about 300km from
Maiduguri.
Biu is one of the towns in Borno state which has not
been attacked by Boko Haram.
According to Military sources, the insurgents suffered
heavy casualty as many of them who attempted to
invade the Army barracks in the town were killed.
One of the sources, according to Punch, said 41
corpses of the insurgents laid at different spots around
the barracks, another said seven of the insurgents,
who sustained injuries from the ensued gunfight, were
captured alive by soldiers and an Armoured Personel
Carrier was also seized from the insurgents. It was
discovered that some of the insurgents who were
killed were citizens of neighbouring Chad Republic.
One of the residents of the town, Dauda Yusuf, who
spoke with Punch on the telephone at about 1pm on
Wednesday from Biu, said, “Sporadic shootings made
many of us shiver this morning as the military engaged
the members of Boko Haram in fierce battle.
“From all indications and given the severity of the
fight, the insurgents perhaps wanted to add the town
to the list of their captured territories.”
A senior military source in Maiduguri, who spoke
anonymously, said it took the gallantry of the Nigerian
soldiers to repel the insurgents. The officer said that
the attack had been expected and that the soldiers
were prepared. He said the insurgents stormed the
town in the early hours of Wednesday, shooting
sporadically before the military responded and was
able to repel the attack.
He said the casualties could “not be given now as the
military is still taking position and combing the town.”