20 killed in renewed Boko Haram attack in Borno

No fewer than 20 persons have been killed in a renewed attack on villagers in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents dressed in military camouflage. Read more

The attack, according to security sources and fleeing residents, occurred at about 6am yesterday at Logomani and lasted till about 9am, as the suspected insurgents shot at residents who were savouring the morning chilly weather in their houses, after the early morning Muslim (Subuhi) prayers.

“They operated till about 9am; shot dead about 20 people, while many were injured,” a police source said.

Fleeing residents claimed 10 people were injured, adding that the attackers fled toward Gamboru/Ngala bushes, while they were being pursued by soldiers.

Some of the fleeing residents claimed there was rumour of strange movement of persons around the area a week ago, heading toward Marte area, though it was not clear at press time whether the residents informed security agencies in the area.

“We were told that some of the Boko Haram sect members came around and warned some people, but left almost immediately towards Marte. The people, who said they had seen them warned that people should stop coming to the area, where trucks drivers usually came to park and rest before continuing their journey towards Ngamboru/Ngala and Tchad,” Bukar Gana, a resident of the area told journalists yesterday in Maiduguri.

He also alleged that the insurgents exhorted money from residents and fled with some women.

One of the fleeing residents and a passenger in a commercial vehicle, who narrowly escaped being killed by the sect members, said the attackers stopped the vehicle he boarded yesterday, shot dead three passengers and slaughtered 14 other persons. “Soldiers were alerted, but they fled into the bushes along Gmaboru/Ngala, some on motorcycles,” a source claimed.

“They stopped passengers and the passengers thought they were soldiers because they wore military camouflage until they began to ask them (passengers) to come out of the car; it was then they realised they were Boko Haram,” the source said.

Dikwa, a major town in Borno, located in the eastern part of the state, is about 120 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital. It borders Konduga and Bama Local Government areas, where troops from the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army claimed they killed over 40 insurgents during raids to prevent planned attack on the area by the insurgents.

Yesterday incident came as the army commenced movement of troops to strategic areas and swapping of personnel, in what military sources called routine exercise.

From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri

CULLED FROM SUN NEWSPAPER