10 dead as military battles ‘insurgents’

Ten people were reportedly killed and two military personnel injured in a gun battle between the soldiers from Maigumeri Barracks in Lokoja and suspected Islamic fundamentalists in Okene, Kogi State.

It was learnt that following a tip-off, the soldiers stormed Inike, Okene, about 1am, to dislodge the suspected fundamentalists.

The soldiers, it was gathered, traced some of those, who a fortnight ago, allegedly attacked the Department of State Security (DSS) headquarters in Lokoja, to the area and a battle ensued between them and the fundamentalists.

Sources said the soldiers overpowered the sect members.

It was learnt that a mosque was razed and a military Hilux van was torched.

The area was said to have been deserted.

Police Commissioner Emmanuel Ojukwu said it was a military operation, stressing that only the Army could speak on the incident.

Efforts to contact the military authority were unsuccessful.