‘Hundreds’ killed by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Tragedy struck in various communities of Borno state in the past four days, as suspected Boko Haram insurgents laid deadly siege, killing over 200 persons during the period.

The areas which suffered the bloody onslaught comprised of Kala-Balge, Konduga, Ngala, Bama, Damboa, Gwoza, Chibok and Dikwa local government councils.

Similarly, thousands of residents were rendered homeless, as over 200 houses, shops and other structures were allegedly burnt by the attackers.

Our correspondent reported that the latest attacks occurred on Saturday in both Bama, Gwoza and Konduga local government areas, which claimed 98 persons.

In Bama local government alone, 60 people were confirmed dead after the insurgents carried out midnight multiple attacks in Anchaka village and other neighboring communities.

Chairman of the council, Alhaji Baba Shehu, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday, saying several other persons were also injured in the attacks.

Shehu pointed out that the attackers, who invaded the communities, armed with sophisticated weapons and explosives, had driven into the communities on Hi-lux vehicles, while others were on bikes, before wreaking havoc on innocent civilians.

“The attackers stormed the communities at night when residents were still sleeping, setting ablaze houses and shot residents who tried to escaped from the fire,” Shehu said.

He added:“ About 60 persons were confirmed dead after the incident, with several others injured. Almost all the houses in the communities were destroyed by the hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the buildings”.

The chairman also stated that the attackers destroyed the newly renovated motorized boreholes provided by the council to provide water for the communities.

He added that residents of the communities had fled to Maiduguri for fear of another attacks by the invaders.

“It is really a terrible situation, we had wanted to rush relief materials to the area to provide temporary succor to the victims but we were prevailed upon by security agents to shelve our plans or security reasons,” Shehu said.

He appealed to the state and Federal Government to assist the area with resources towards rehabilitating the victims.

In the attacks, which also happened on Saturday, at least 38 people were feared dead when another set of gunmen stormed two communities in Gwoza and Konguda local government councils.

Fleeing residents of the areas, who escaped to Maiduguri, the state capital, told newsmen that suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Ngoshe and Kaigamari villages in Gwoza and Konduga local areas, killing 38 inhabitants.

Many people were also wounded even as the assailants burnt many houses, shops, telecommunication masts and other structures.

Ngoshe is located east of Gwoza, between Cameroon boarder, while Kaigamari is a remote settlement in Konduga which have remained under siege by terrorists.

According to residents, the Ngoshe onslaught was carried out by over 50 gunmen, who were armed with dangerous weapons comprising of Improvised Explosive Devices, (IEDs), petrol bombs, assault rifles and Rocket Propelled Launchers (RPGs).

The insurgents have reportedly emerged from the nearby hills, before invading the village at about 10pm and opened fire on sleeping residents, killing 30 people on the spot, leaving several others wounded.

Malam Usman Jidda reports that the gunmen, who were sighted some few days back in between the mountainous areas of Ngoshe and Limankara villages, had a field day without being confronted by security operatives throughout the attack which lasted several hours.

“I thank God for sparing my life and members of my family as we were able to escape the deadly attack; we are now settling with one of my relatives in Gwoza council area.

“I can confirm to you that more than 30 people were killed by the insurgents in Ngoshe, apart from the destruction of property worth millions of naira”. Jidda stated.

In the Kaigamari incident, no fewer than eight people were killed when another set of gunmen struck the village, before setting ablaze some houses and shops, according to residents.

Besides the weekend incidents, the insurgents also wreaked havoc on others area between Thursday and Friday, killing over 150 persons.

Senator Ahmed Zannah, who represents the affected areas, confirmed the killing of 130 persons in separate attacks in Kal-Balge, Dikwa and Ngala local governments.

Senator Zannah, who spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa report monitored in Maiduguri, said many people were wounded, while surviving victims rendered homeless as hundreds of houses were razed.

While giving more details on other attacks, the senator told newsmen phone that there was a siege on Teachers College Dikwa on Thursday night, where eight teachers were slaughtered.

However details were not known due to poor, or absence of, mobile networks.