Fifteen persons suspected to be Chadian nationals were killed today as members of Boko Haram launched a morning raid on a military barrack in Biu, South of Borno State.
A Biu resident said he counted 15 corpses of the Chadians in front of the military barrack while seven persons were said to have been captured alive by soldiers after they sustained injuries from the gunfight.
The number of Boko Haram members killed in the crossfire is yet to be ascertained as the source said there was information that more bodies of more sect members were still being evacuated inside the barrack while the 15 were those killed outside the gate.
Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan had visited President Idriss Derby of Chad for a meeting that turned controversial after Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati released photos of former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff seated in the meeting in a manner with Derby and Jonathan. Sheriff had just been accused of being a major sponsor of Boko Haram by Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis.
Sheriff has since denied the allegation while the Department of State Security gave him a preliminary clearance after it paraded some seven men the DSS alleged conspired with Stephen Davies to tarnish Sheriff’s image. The DSS had however said that it was still investigating Sheriff.
