10 soldiers die in battle as army repels Boko Haram from Ashaka town

Over 70 terrorists killed
*Fashola commends armed forces
THE Nigerian Military, yesterday, put up a brave fight against
hundreds of Boko Haram terrorists who attacked the
dynamite-manufacturing town of Ashaka in Gombe State.
Their plan was to overrun the town. After several hours of fighting,
the Nigerian Army lost 10 soldiers while over 70 Boko Haram terrorists
were killed with scores of them sustaining serious gunshot injuries –
most of the terrorists fled the town. While running away from the
town, the terrorists carried most of their dead members in three
trucks.
Confirming the development in the Defence Headquarters twitter handle,
Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, noted
that the terrorists invaded the town in a convoy of 30 vehicles and
many motorcycles.
His words: "Terrorists fleeing Ashaka on Thursday managed to retrieve
three truckloads full of their dead members following the defeat and
heavy casualty they suffered after a fierce battle with troops in the
area.
"The terrorists, who had come in large number with heavy equipment and
convoy of over 30 vehicles and a number of motor cycles, were on a
mission to take control of Ashaka town, after they had operated in
Bajoga and environs in Gombe State.
"Troops who got wind of their intention to overrun other towns and
pursued the terrorists while some also laid ambush for them. The
terrorists were forced to abandon the mission when the troops proved
unyielding. Most of the vehicles and equipment used by the terrorists
for their mission were destroyed before they chose to flee the
location.
"Over 10 soldiers however died in the battle while those who were
wounded are being treated in military hospitals.
About a month ago, suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the Ashaka
Cement Company where they made away with a truck load of dynamites
used for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS) and since
then, several bomb attacks in Kano, Maduguri, Yobe, Adamawa and
Bauchi, etc have been carried out with female suicide bombers. The
military succeeded in thwarting some of the suicide bombing plots.
Military's discipline reason Nigeria hasn't exploded -Fashola
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has
commended the military for its discipline and dedication to duty,
which he said have kept Nigeria from imploding. Speaking at the formal
decoration of two officers of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corp, NAOC,
recently promoted by the Army High Command from the rank of colonel to
brigadier-general, Fashola said the resilience and continuous loyalty
of the Army to the democratic principle were reasons the country has
not exploded. Represented by Dr. Adeyemi Idowu, the governor said
Nigerian Army had moved beyond what it was in the colonial era and
that they were now a more formidable institution. The two Nigerian
Army Ordnance Corp officers were Brigadier-General Martin Obiora
Enendu, who is Director of Equipment, HQ, NAOC, and Brigadier-General
Adamu Mama Dauda. Decorating the officers, Commandant, Nigerian Army
Ordnance Corp, HQ, Major-General Adekunle Abdullahi Martins described
them as fine officers