Boko Haram kills 107 in Zamfara, Potiskum

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The notorious Boko Haram members have again attacked some communities under Birnin Magaji and Zurmi local government areas of Zamfara state, allegedly killing over one hundred members of the vigilante group in forest ambush.

The incidence reportedly occurred last Tuesday night when the vigilante members from two affected local governments mobilised a joint meeting aimed at curbing the threatening rate of insurgency across the border towns with Katsina state.

A source narrated that, the vigilante groups have traced the main hideout of the terrorists deep down the jungle, believing that the situation can be a further threat to the oncoming general elections. This followed an earlier decision taken to find a lasting solution in order to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections.

According to the source, “When the meeting was going on, an informant within the meeting alerted the insurgents who immediately surrounded the victims and opened fire on them, killing over a hundred and escaped into the forest”.

The most affected communities include Zurmi, Birnin Magaji and Birnin Tsaba where insurgents’ have been frequently attacking, killing and rustling cows as well as other domestic animals.

Confirming the incidence, the emir of Birnin Magaji emirate, Alhaji Ahmed Umar Usman said, his community lost eight people, while Zurmi community lost about seventy, and Birnin Tsaba thirty was recorded.

Other sources separately revealed to our correspondent that, the number of those killed were far more than the record so far, as more corpses were still lying there in the deep forest.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state Command, DSP Lawal Abdullahi, only nineteen lives were lost and men have since been deployed to condone the forest in effort to ensure the return of law and order in the area.

Meanwhile, not less than seven people have been suspected dead with more than 20 others injured when a suicide bomber with a black Honda civic car blew up an explosive in a petrol station in Potiskum town in Yobe state,

An eye witness said the suicide bomber exploded his device immediately on entering the station where people were buying fuel, adding that the injured ones were taken to the general hospital, while soldiers has surrounded the filling station.

There is indication that lots of casualties were sustained as they receive treatment at the Potiskum general hospital. The real casualty rate is yet to be ascertained as rescue team were still carrying out their duty

Also on Sunday, three people were killed in an attack by suspected members of the Boko Haram in Tourou, a place in the north of Cameroon. Around 50 children were abducted and 80 houses were burned in the attack, an army source told Xinhua.