Fifteen suspected Boko Haram and five residents were yesterday killed in a fresh attack by the insurgents on the sleepy town of Damboa in Borno State. Read more
Some suspected Boko Haram insurgents were said to have invaded Damboa, a small community about 87 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital, in the early hours of yesterday while Muslim worshippers were observing their early morning prayers (Subhui) in the mosque. Damboa has witnessed no fewer than five attacks by the Boko Haram since the insurgency heightened in Borno.
A statement signed by the acting spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Captain Aliyu Danja on behalf of the General Commanding Officer (GOC), said the insurgents sneaked into the sleepy town at about 4.30am on Saturday. “The terrorists whose strength is unknown sneaked into the town at about 4.30am, attacked worshippers in a mosque and killed five of them who came to say their morning prayers,” Danja stated.
He said the attackers set ablaze the District Head (Hakimi) Palace, his house and some shops around the area, adding that soldiers from the 7 Division intercepted the insurgents while the attack was going on, and subsequently engaged them in a shootout, killing 15 of the attackers. He said some of the attackers “fled in disarray.”
“No fewer than 15 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in the early hours of today when troops of 21 Brigade under 7 Division encountered Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa Local Government area of Borno State. While they were unleashing their mayhem, troops under the 7 Division engaged the terrorists killing 15 in the process while others fled in disarray. Efforts are on to trace and destroy the feeling terrorists,” he disclosed.
Items recovered from the insurgents, according to the spokesman, include one rocket propelled grenade tube, two Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, five AK 47 rifles, a pick up van and assorted ammunition.
“The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army wishes to thank the general public for their resilience and efforts in providing timely and useful information to security agencies,” he said, even as he urged the people to be security conscious by “reporting any movement of unknown person/persons within their localities to the nearest army or security agencies.” He also reassured the people of the commitment of the Nigerian Army to bring the insurgency to an end.
From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, MAIDUGURI
CULLED FROM THE SUN NEWSPAPER
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