Nigerian military confirm 150 killed in Boko Haram attack

Not more than 150 people died in a recent attack by Boko Haram in Baga Town of Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, the military said in a statement reaching Xinhua Tuesday.

"From all available evidences, the number of people who lost their lives during that attack has so far not exceeded about 150 in the interim. This figure includes many of the terrorists who were bearing arms and got killed in the course of their attack and battle with troops," the statement issued by military spokesman Chris Olukolade said, while debunking rumors making the round that 2000 lives were lost in the onslaught

The Nigerian military said a lot of covert operations including surveillance activities, which recorded series of aerial photographs, were ongoing in that vicinity. The exercise so far had not corroborated the report on the casualty rate which was put at 2000 deaths by some international bodies and foreign media, it said.

Baga and the neighboring towns, located in the northern part of Borno State, had been under series of attacks and harassment by terrorists, a development which resulted in mass exodus of residents, leaving the population in the town almost seriously depleted, the military noted.

The military said since Jan. 3, the day of the attack, the terrorists had been committing terrible atrocities in Baga but necessary actions would be taken to put an end to the activities of the terrorists and restore law and order to the town.

The Nigerian defense headquarters said its troops would not give up on Baga or any part of the country where terrorists were marauding, assuring the citizens that appropriate plans, men and resources were presently being mobilized to address the situation. Endi