Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered the bodies of a commanding officer, a major, and several soldiers killed by Boko Haram insurgents in the Damasak area of Borno State.

Earlier reports had suggested that seven soldiers were killed during a terrorist attack on Monday, while the commanding officer and 12 others were captured by the insurgents. However, top security sources have now confirmed that the commanding officer, seven soldiers, and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were later executed by the terrorists.

According to one of the sources, the bodies were recovered on Wednesday after troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce ground operation, supported by air strikes. The joint land and air offensive reportedly forced the terrorists to retreat, allowing troops to access the area and recover the fallen personnel.

The incident underscores the continued security challenges in parts of the North-East, as security forces sustain operations against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in the region.