Insurgents kill monarch, 13 others in Borno

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect yesterday carried out separate attacks in two local government areas of Borno state, killing 13 persons, including a district head.

The first incident occurred around 2am, when the militants, armed with sophisticated weapons and explosives, invaded Gamborou Ngala town, in Ngala local government area of the state.

Our correspondent reported that Gamborou, which is located along Nigeria-Cameroon border, had recently witnessed deadly attacks, allegedly launched by Boko Haram fighters, forcing thousands of residents to flee into Cameroon.

Just last week, the militants bombed the only bridge linking Maiduguri with the area, after detonating explosives, which scuttled movements of people and goods.

This has negatively desrupted socio-economic activities as hundreds of passengers and traders who export goods to Cameroon are now stranded.

The latest incident, according to residents of the area, occurred when gunmen driven into the town in two Volkswagen Golf cars and several bikes, firing sporadic shots into the air.

They reportedly stormed some selected houses and picked two members of the youth volunteers, popularly known as Civilian JTF and slaughtered them.

One of the residents, Malam Bulama Waziri told newsmen on phone that the gunmen carried out selective raid, as they only targetted homes of civilian JTF members.

“We believe the assailants were on a particular mission to eliminate members of the vigilante who were supporting security forces to battle the insurgents. Upon arriving into the area, the insurgents raided several houses and picked two youth; we later discovered their corpses at the riverside, with their throats sliced”, he declared.

Similarly, yesterday afternoon, dozens of gunmen have reportedly blocked Maiduguri-Ngala highway and ambushed travellers, killing scores.

It was learnt that the militants, who were in military uniforns, disguised as federal troops and barricaded the road.

Several vehicles have reportedly ran into the security check-points mounted by the militants, while others, narrowly escaped into the bush.

The other incident happened in Garubula village of Biu local government area, as another group of the gunmen killed the District Head of the area, Alhaji Ibrahim Dawi and 11 others.

A resident of the area, Malam Idrisa Garubula said the gunmen stormed the village at about 11 a.m and opened fire on the crowd, killing the victims on the spot, before fleeing the scene.

He said: “The district head was shot in the head and was however rushed to Biu General Hospital before he gave up the ghost. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites in Biu, the headquarters of Biu local government area of the state”.