40 dead! Nigerian soldiers win major battle over Boko Haram

The Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram launched an attack on the northeastern town of Biu on Wednesday, but Nigerian soldiers-with the aid of residents-managed to defeat and drive off the larger force.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, has been criticized for not taking a harder stance and refusing to take the offensive against the group which has caused terror and death in the north of Nigeria since 2009.

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Nigeria holds presidential election in February, and this recent victory could be a campaigning stunt for Jonathan, who is running for reelection.

There are no official casualty tolls from the battle but local residents had reported to CNN that at least 40 gunmen were killed. Nigerian Defense Headquarters said that at least five terrorists and two anti-aircraft guns had been captured.

It is unclear how many militants were involved in the battle for Biu, but they arrived in 10 pickups and two motorcycles. The fighters were intercepted by soldiers from a nearby barracks, and fought for over two hours.

The opening volley belonged to the military, which ambushed a lead team of three pickups, which were carrying gunmen, about a mile out from the town.

"Soldiers killed 40 Boko Haram insurgents and foiled their attempt to take over the barracks and attack the town," one resident of Biu, Mahmud Bukar, told CNN. "All 30 gunmen in the three vehicles were killed by the barrage of gunfire from the soldiers."

The rest of the militant group were camped at a nearby gas station, but they soon attacked as well, fighting the soldiers for two hours before being overwhelmed and forced to retreat.

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Some locals and soldiers took off after them, while the town's youth took to the streets to build barricades to prevent an insertion by militants later.

Biu is an important commercial center and the largest town in southern Borno. Boko Haram have been targeting villages surrounding the town, but have been never actually attacked that town.

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