Suspected Boko Haram insurgents numbering over 2,000 are alleged to have retaken Marte, a border town along the shores of Lake Chad forcing soldiers to flee according to a local official and eyewitnesses.
"The terrorists, numbering over 2000 appeared from various directions on Thursday and engaged the soldiers in Kirenowa town and adjoinng communities in Marte" said Imamu Habeeb, a local community leader.
"They fought with soldiers over the night and the fight continued today(Friday), forcing hundreds of soldiers to flee," he added.
Local fighter, Shehu Dan Baiwa said that more than 2,000 Boko Haram fighters were armed with bombs and tanks.
"They used the weapons without restraint and succeeded in killing several people", he said.
Marte in Borno State is a key battleground of Boko Haram's six year insurgency in the north eastern part of Nigeria. This will mark the third time Marte has allegedly been retaken by the Islamic insurgents.
Boko Haram have been fighting back as the Nigerian soldiers are said to have retreated from Sambisa forest this week after a landmine killed a soldier and three vigilantes.
A senior politician confirmed that Marte has been retaken by Boko Haram and said, "We lost many (people) because some of our people that fled to Chad and Cameroon have returned after troops recovered the town recently" he said.
A military official confirmed the attack on Marte but described the army's retreat as strategic.
(AFP)
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