A soldier guarding the country home of the JTF Commander in the Niger Delta, Major General Tukur Buratai, was on Tuesday night killed in a shootout when gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked Buratai village in Biu local government area in Borno State, security sources said.
Major General Buratai’s home was reportedly burnt down by the gunmen who freely used sophisticated arms and explosives during the attack.
The deceased soldier was among those deployed to guard the country home of JTF commander..
Eyewitnesses in Buratai village said the gunmen invaded the rocky village at about 7pm and opened fire on soldiers guarding the Army general’s house.
“There was a serious shootout between the attackers and the military personnel which led to the death of a soldier,” said Mari Ibrahim, a businessman.
Mari said, the suspected terrorists took the soldiers by surprise when they attacked the general’s mansion in the village at about 7pm on Tuesday.
Buratai is 215 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital.
The village had in January came under attack when some gunmen killed a local trader there.
Borno State police commissioner confirmed the attack, but declined comments on the death of the soldier.
“There was an attack in Buratai with minimal damage and the situation has been brought under control,” Tanko said.
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