Four soldiers, 40 civilians feared killed in Garkida

• Army rolls out battle tanks

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect yesterday attacked a military base at the border town of Garkida in Gombi local government area of Adamawa leaving four soldiers and 40 civilians dead in their trails.

Adamawa State Acting Governor, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, made this known while commiserating with the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha over the incident yesterday during a Sallah courtesy call.

The acting governor said “as government, we really felt bad for the unfortunate incident which took place in your territory where four Nigerian soldiers and innocent citizens were reported killed by insurgents’’.

Similarly, army authorities in Yola and the Adamawa State Police Command have equally confirmed the incident, but gave no further details over causalities.

Eyewitness account by resident who preferred anonymity said that there was heavy gunfire in the town. According to him, “They first struck at a military check point at our border with Borno. After  a gun battle with soldiers for almost thirty minutes, the  attackers then proceeded to a nearby  village called crossing- junction during which they also stayed there for almost another half hour before pouncing on Garkida.

He continued “In Garkida, they launched attack at the military and police bases, and for now nobody can tell you what really happened or the actual number of casualties because we were forced to lock up in our houses. Right now I can hear heavy gunfire.”

Garkida is close to Agwan Alade where armed men suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect sometimes ago waylaid the convoys of the three first class Emirs from Borno state when the Emir of Gwoza was murdered.

The town is also the same place where a  German expatriate, Mr. Nitsch Eberhard, was recently abducted in front of his house. It could also be recalled here that only last week unknown gunmen attacked Gaya community killing over 13 persons in the aftermath of the attacks.

In the same vein, villages of Kuda –Kaya and Kuduku in Madagali local government areas were equally attacked during which no fewer than six persons were reportedly killed as the marauding gunmen ran away food stuff and cattle.

“They attacked Kuda-Kaya  and Kuduku villages, killing atleast six people and stole food stuffs and cattle from the villagers,’’ said Mr. James Abawu Watharda, chairman Madagali local government area in a telephone interview.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Military has reclaimed Garkida town from the Boko Haram insurgents who attacked the town last night, displacing some military units and burning down Police stations as well as other target areas.

Residents of Garkida yesterday disclosed that the military has rolled out tanks within and around the village as they have now reclaimed the town from the violent insurgents.

They however said that the insurgents went with two Hilux vans belonging to the military unit in the ensued battle which lasted hours in the famous Gombi local government area of Adamawa state.

They could not give the number of casualties but said they are aware that some of the residents returning from Kwalamba were killed by the insurgents when they were being confronted by the army.

According to them, the insurgents might have come with specific target, otherwise they would have killed everyone in the village before the military reinforcement.

They however said that the situation was now calm as the military has taken over the village.