“The Nigerian army has repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in the town of Biu in the north-eastern state of Borno. Some insurgents were killed, the army said after the militants were driven back. Local people told the BBC they had seen the militants retreat and calm had been restored.
The attack came after three people were killed in a suicide attack in neighbouring Gombe state on Tuesday. Residents of Biu, the largest town in Borno South, say they woke up to the sounds of heavy explosions and sustained gunfire. One resident said Boko Haram militants had entered the town firing guns around 06:30 local time (05:30 GMT), leading some residents to flee.
Residents who stayed saw the army, which has often been accused of retreating in the face of Boko Haram attacks, engage the militants in intense battle. Nigerian army spokesman Chris Olukolade said the military had killed some of the insurgents, taking their weapons, and had captured five of them alive. Another resident of Biu said calm had now been restored and that although shops were still closed, people were venturing out again…”
“A Kenyan military spokesman says a Kenyan soldier and five militants were killed in firefight in the coastal county of Lamu between Kenyan troops and militants from the Somali extremist group al-Shabab.
Col. David Odongo said Kenyan troops on routine “administrative duties” Wednesday near the Somalia border identified the site where the militants were preparing to stage an ambush and a shootout ensued. Odongo says three soldiers were wounded.
Lamu County has been on a five-month dusk to dawn curfew following al-Shabab attacks in June and July that left 87 people dead. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution for the presence of Kenyan troops supporting Somalia’s weak government to fight the militants….”
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Nigeria Boko Haram: Army repels attack in Borno state (BBC, Jan 14, 2015)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30817540
“The Nigerian army has repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in the town of Biu in the north-eastern state of Borno. Some insurgents were killed, the army said after the militants were driven back. Local people told the BBC they had seen the militants retreat and calm had been restored.
The attack came after three people were killed in a suicide attack in neighbouring Gombe state on Tuesday. Residents of Biu, the largest town in Borno South, say they woke up to the sounds of heavy explosions and sustained gunfire. One resident said Boko Haram militants had entered the town firing guns around 06:30 local time (05:30 GMT), leading some residents to flee.
Residents who stayed saw the army, which has often been accused of retreating in the face of Boko Haram attacks, engage the militants in intense battle. Nigerian army spokesman Chris Olukolade said the military had killed some of the insurgents, taking their weapons, and had captured five of them alive. Another resident of Biu said calm had now been restored and that although shops were still closed, people were venturing out again…”
Official: 6 Dead as Kenyan Troops Engage Extremists (abcnews, Jan 14, 2015)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/official-dead-kenyan-troops-engage-extremists-28225652
“A Kenyan military spokesman says a Kenyan soldier and five militants were killed in firefight in the coastal county of Lamu between Kenyan troops and militants from the Somali extremist group al-Shabab.
Col. David Odongo said Kenyan troops on routine “administrative duties” Wednesday near the Somalia border identified the site where the militants were preparing to stage an ambush and a shootout ensued. Odongo says three soldiers were wounded.
Lamu County has been on a five-month dusk to dawn curfew following al-Shabab attacks in June and July that left 87 people dead. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution for the presence of Kenyan troops supporting Somalia’s weak government to fight the militants….”