Boko Haram fighters loyal to the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Tuesday killed at least eight soldiers and injured three others in an ambush in Kukawa town in the northern part of Borno State, Daily Trust reports.

They also, in the last ten days abducted about one hundred people including young men and girls from Kukawa and adjoining communities, security sources, vigilantes and locals said.

Elsewhere in Magumeri, the terrorists on Monday raided a general hospital in the town, killed a nursing mother and stole drugs and medical equipment before they burnt the facility to ashes.

It was gathered from credible sources that the insurgents stepped up offensive because they were looking for food, additional weapons, more fighters and money to finance their activities.

“The terrorists resolved to continue attacking villages with a view to getting logistics,” a source with deep knowledge of happenings in the war ravaged Borno told our correspondent on Wednesday.

“Considering that it is the rainy season, it is a tough time for both the military and terrorists,” the source said.

Efforts to get the military to comment on the latest attack was not successful as the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Eneche, did not reply to a text message sent to him by our reporter.

However, he had earlier yesterday stated that about 20 terrorists were killed in an ongoing onslaught in the area.

Meanwhile, a security expert said that the spike in attacks could be as a result of the rains, as the military did not have the appropriate equipment to fight under that condition.

How soldiers were killed in Kukawa

One of our sources said troops were asked to move to Kukawa on Tuesday to address increased Boko Haram activities occasioned by raids for food and abduction of child soldiers and girls for Boko Haram commanders.

They were, however, ambushed by the terrorists who had prior knowledge of their movement.

There were claims in some quarters that the terrorists have taken over Kukawa, but this could not be verified at press time.

According to the source, “troops of 401 Special Forces Brigade were ambushed at Kukawa (on Tuesday).

“The terrorists dressed in camouflage and red barrette ambushed a team of two officers and 28 soldiers.  Eight soldiers were killed, three were wounded and two officers got missing, but they were later found,” our source said.