by Chi Ibe

The Joint Military Task Force has confirmed that at least 20 suspected Boko Haram members were killed when they attacked a military barrack in Munguno, Borno State on Sunday March 3.

They had first killed the ruler in the village then headed to the barracks to cause havoc just hours after Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, reportedly released a video footage to Northern journalists denying any peace talk with the Federal Government.

Spokesman for the Joint Military Task Force, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement alleged that the three vehicles and eight motorcycles used by the suspects were destroyed and several arms and ammunition were recovered.

“The following items were also recovered, seven AK 47 rifles, 10 rocket propelled grenades, two RPG Tubes, large quantities of assorted ammunition and eight assorted magazines,” Musa said while confirming  that the JTF had also detained suspected brains behind last week’s Maiduguri bomb blasts.

According to reports, Shekau speaking in Hausa Language on the recorded video said that his members would get revenge for every member of the sect killed by security agents and deal with the man who ‘posed’ as the leader of the group announcing a ceasefire agreement with the government.

“Whoever kills any of our members should await a grave retaliation from us. We will continue waging war against them until we succeed in establishing an Islamic state in Nigeria,” Shekau was quoted as saying.

The Punch reports:

One Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdul-Aziz, who claimed to be second-in-command to Shekau, had during a radio conference with journalists in Maiduguri, in November last year, said the sect was willing to meet with the government in Saudi Arabia.

Abdul-Aziza also named ex-Head of State Muhammadu Buhari and others as mediators for Boko Haram. Buhari turned down the assignment.

Abdul-Aziz also asked for compensation for members of the sect that had been killed and for the rebuilding of their mosques destroyed during attacks.

He had said, “We are not actually challenging the state, as people are saying, but the security (forces) that are killing our members, children and wives.

“We are highly offended but if this government is sincere, everything (the attacks) will come to an end. We want to discuss but the government must show sincerity in its handling of the situation.”

Also in January, the same Abdul-Aziz announced a ceasefire agreement with government in Maiduguri but several attacks suspected to have been carried out by Boko Haram have continued to occur.

Neither Boko Haram nor other terrorist groups in the country has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack as at the time of this report.

In January, a new terrorist group said to be a breakaway faction of Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack on Nigerian troops in Kogi State on their way for peace mission in Mali.

More than 1,000 persons have been killed in Boko Haram attacks on drinking joints, places of worship, military and police facilities since 2009.