Boko Haram ambush leaves two Nigerian soldiers, several militants dead

KANGARWA, Nigeria, July 13 -- An ambush-style attack by Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria has killed two military soldiers and a handful of insurgents, officials said Wednesday.


The attack occurred Tuesday in Nigeria's Borno state in the town of Kangarwa, military officials said, which is considered a significant Boko Haram stronghold.

According to officials and news reports, the gun battle lasted for hours. Two Nigerian soldiers were killed and seven were injured in the ambush.

"The attack which started at about 6:30 p.m. was successfully repelled after about three hours of exchange of heavy gunfire that inflicted tremendous casualty on the terrorists. Unfortunately, two of our gallant soldiers paid the supreme price, while seven were wounded in action," Nigerian army official Sani Usman said.

"Due to poor visibility, the number of terrorists killed could not be ascertained for now. However, the bodies of the gallant soldiers and those wounded in action are being evacuated, while the unit is carrying out mop up operation," he continued. "It should be noted that the successful repelling of the attack was made possible by support from the Nigerian and Chadian Air Force fighter jets,"

Tuesday's violence happened just four days after militants of the terror organization struck at a military base in Rann, also in Borno.

Several suspected Boko Haram militants, including a senior leader, were arrested Friday.