In less than 24 hours, suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed over 40 people in multiple attacks across Borno State, razing down houses and a church,
The tragedy comes after Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing the capacity of its troops to neutralise ongoing threats to national security
One of our correspondents gathered that the Borno attack occurred in different locations between Kalabalge and Damboa Local Government Areas.
The PUNCH had reported that on Monday, around 12pm, 26 travellers ran over an Improvised Explosive Device suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists while traveling along the Kala-Balge road to Gamboru Ngala Local government Area of Borno State.
Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said the injured victims were still in the hospital.
He said, “Earlier today at about 12pm, an Isuzu pickup van with registration number XA265KKU drove all the way from Kalabalge area enroute Gamboru Ngala stepped on an IED around Furunduma village. The tragic incident led to the death of 26 persons, which includes 16 males and four females and six children.”
Seven hours later, around 7pm same day, the terrorists stormed a funeral gathering, shooting sporadically, reportedly killing about 15 mourners.
The incident occurred in Kwaple, a village near Chibok Local Government Area of the state.
The PUNCH learnt that the insurgents arrived on motorcycles and unleashed coordinated attacks that lasted for almost an hour without reprisal from security agents.
Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, Modu Mustapha, said, “The terrorists attacked during a funeral, a lot of people were killed.”
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that 15 people died while many others were abducted.
“It was a horrific experience according to those who witnessed the shooting and killings. I was not there, but the information reaching me is that it was 15 people, mostly men, that died,” the source said.
“They burnt an Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria church in the area and about five houses, as well as other property,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities and number of those abducted were still unknown as residents fled for safety.
Earlier this month, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, decried the renewed Boko Haram attacks, dislodgement of military formations and abduction of citizens in many communities almost on daily basis without challenge in the state, saying the government was losing ground in the war against the insurgents.
The Governor said the renewed attacks were a signal that the state was losing ground in the fight against the terrorists.
Zulum stated this at a special expanded security meeting attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Haruna, Sector Commanders, Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies.
The Governor said, “It is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities are almost on daily basis without confrontation, signaling that Borno State is losing ground.
“In as much as the Borno State Government under my leadership commends the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the Sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.”
Reacting to the recent attacks, Zulum expressed worry, adding that the state was not relenting but restrategising to curb the upsurge in terrorists’ attacks in the state.