According to one of the soldiers who escaped and spoke on anonymity to journalists, he said the sect men came in 30 vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns, caught them unawares and subdued them
"We were totally subdued by the insurgents. Some of my colleagues were abducted and many others escaped with bullet wounds. Dozens of Boko Haram insurgents stormed our checkpoint at Bulabulin on Tuesday night. The terrorists came in a convoy of over 30 vehicles, mounted with Anti Aircraft guns (AA). I was at the checkpoint when the terrorists came, we tried our best but they had advantage over us. They had AA and we had Ak47 rifles that are not fully loaded. When we realized that they had taken over the place, some of us escaped to Maiduguri and other places but many could not make it. As I am talking to you, 16 bodies of our colleagues have been brought to Maiduguri, this is apart from those that sustained injuries and many others that are missing." he said