Boko Haram militants have shot and
injured the acting Brigade commander of
23rd Brigade in Yola.
Colonel Popoola was shot in the shoulder three
days ago in the thick of a battle to regain control
of Hong and Gombi in Adamawa state from the
Islamist militant sect.
An army source in Abuja told SaharaReporters that the senior army officer
has been evacuated to UCH Ibadan where he is
expected to receive better and further treatment
in the coming days.
Nigerian soldiers on patrol in Maiduguri
Several soldiers were reported to have died in the battle.
The military source also told
SaharaReporters that at least 300 Boko Haram
militants have died in the battle.
Colonel Popoola reportedly led a new crop of
soldiers drafted from Jos into battle against the
insurgents in a renewed battle to retake several
towns from Boko Haram.
The troop was able to recover two armored tanks from the militants
after the battle was over.
The military claimed to have regained control of
towns today in a short tweet.
Meanwhile, four commanders have been arrested
for deserting their troops during the Monday
fight that earned Colonel Popoola a bullet to his
shoulder.
The arrested soldiers include one
Lieutenant Mohammed, the QRG commander of
234 battalion; 2nd Lieutenant UC Uche, Platoon
commander of Bravo Company of the 234
battalion; Captain Lawal; and Lieutenant Buraji
who is Mararaba platoon commander.
The four and one other Captain Lawan were led away in
handcuffs yesterday and locked up inside the
military police guardroom at the 23rd Brigade in
Yola Adamawa state.
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