Borno attack: 45 villagers confirmed dead as jet bombs civilian location

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

At least 45 persons were yesterday confirmed dead during the weekend’s bloody attacks carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Dille village, close to Sambisa forest, in Askira Uba local government area of Borno state, a council official, who declined identification, told newsmen.

Dozens of insurgents, armed with sophisticated weapons and explosives, had driven into the village in Hilux vehicles and motorcycles yesterday, around 6.30 a.m. and unleashed terror on villagers, killing 38 persons on the spot.

However a top official of the local government said seven additional corpses of the victims were discovered inside the bush, bringing the total number the slain persons to 45.

The official hinted that the recovered corpses were those of the fleeing civilians, who escaped into the bush during the attack, but were trailed and killed by the militants.

According to the official, though the entire area was deserted for the fear of the unknown, members of the vigilante group and some volunteers were mobilised to embark on search and rescue mission, which led to the discovery of the seven dead bodies.

He explained that over 50 others sustained gunshot injuries, even as the assailants, set burnt houses, shops, vehicles and places of worships. Hundreds of bags of assorted food items were equally carted away by the rampaging invaders before fleeing the scene.

He described the incident as horryfing, saying the areas has never sufferred such a ‘highly’ siege, as there was no intervention from security forces through out the onslaught which lasted for over three hours.

Similarly, the official alleged that a military fighter jet, which arrived in the area to battle the insurgents, had bombed a civilian location, killing an old woman and her grandson.

“The most unfortunate side of the incident was that not a single security operative came to our rescue; in fact the terrorists had a field day. But a military jet arrive from Yola, an hour after the attackers fled”, he stated.

“Immediately after its arrival, the jet started dropping bombs on our houses; we all scampered for safety, thinking that the insurgents returned to unleash more terror on us. Two people lost their lives, while 10 houses destroyed by the jet”, he further alleged.

In a related development, the destruction of a bridge linking Biu and Damboa local government areas of the state by the insurgents on Sunday left motorists and passengers stranded.