Nigerian troops in bloody battle with ISWAP, rescue civilians, IDPs in Marte

•Soldiers, terrorists feared dead

A bloody gun duel between troops of the Nigerian military and fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Marte town in Borno State, has recorded casualties on both sides, according to a report by PRNigeria.

However, it could not be ascertained the actual number of casualties recorded by both the military and the terrorists.

It was, however, gathered that the ISWAP fighters, riding in a convoy of motorcycles and gun trucks invaded Marte town between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

The terrorists, it was learnt, made attempt to abduct ‘innocent’ residents from their settlements and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

However, they were engaged in a fierce gun battle by military troops deployed in communities, and major routes in the insurgency-ravaged town.

Many civilians and IDPs, it was learnt, also escaped.

Findings  according to the report,  indicated that the “murderous” activities of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists had been on the rise owing to the “unholy” alliance between informants and sympathizers of the extremist groups.

An intelligence source, who would not disclose his name, said that, “terrorists, fleeing areas and zones where the ground and air troops have intensified their onslaughts in the North East, may have been the ones invading other hitherto peaceful communities and calm towns such as Marte, to abduct and maim innocent lives”