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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 22,- SUNDAY 23, FEBRUARY, 2014
Cover Boko Haram: Harvest of massacre in Borno Contd from Page 7
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hen they killed a businessman. A resident of Buratai, who declined identification told newsmen that “the suspected terrorists ambushed soldiers who were on guard at the general’s mansion in the village at about 7pm on Tuesday with exchange of gunfire, but the terrorists overpowered the security operatives using Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDS and Rocket Propelled Launchers. They killed one soldier after setting the building ablaze”. , the Police Commissioner in Borno state, Lawal Tanko, confirmed that attack on General Buratai’s residence though the senior military officer was not at his residence at the time of the assault“. The soldiers succeeded in repelling the attacks on Buratai (about 215 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital) resulting in minimal damage,” he said, confirming that one soldier had been killed. imilarly, barely 24 hours after the insurgents launched a major offensive on Bama town, others had reportedly laid siege on the Banki-Gulumba-Dikwa road along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, visiting mayhem on travelers on that route. A driver of a commercial vehicle who said he narrowly escaped from the attackers, told newsmen that the terrorists who take over Maiduguri-Dikwa high way and Banki-Gulumba road, had butchered unspecified number of travelers on that route set their vehicles ablaze. For now no one can say when and where will be the next target. As this not enough, the Boko Haram sect last weekend , launched the most recent deadly attacks in Izge village of Gwoza local government area of Borno state and killed at least over 100 persons. Similarly, prior to this, another set of gunmen on Friday night stormed Baga town along Nigeria- Cameroon border in Bama local government area of the state and killed unspecified numbers of civilians.Both attacks occured within four days after over 59 people lost their lives, 2000 houses burnt when the suspected Boko Haram fighters carried out another onslaught in Konduga town.Residents said the first incident which occured in Baga was launched by over 50 insurgents, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, forcing both security forces
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and civilians to flee into Cameroon territory. It was further learnt that the inavders, who carried assault rifles, anti-aircraft guns, which were mounted on open military patrol vehicles, sneaked into the town in Hilux vehicles, truck and motorcyles from the desert and forest.The attackers had also reportedly dressed in military uniforms and armed with rocket launchers, General Purpose Machine Guns, (GPMGs), Rocket Propelled Grenades, (RPGs) and explosives among others. Sources said upon storming the area, the attackers splited into two groups, with one group firing sporadic shots into the crowd. Others had reportedly embarked on the burning of houses, shops, public buildings and other structures. A survivor who fled to Maiduguri and declined identification told newsmen that several people were killed and hundreds of houses burnt during the onslaught which lasted for over five hours. Residents said the incident happened around 9pm, when most of people had retired to the beds, before being terrified by sporadic sounds of machine guns and explosives.A resident who simply identified himself as Mr. Musa Bitrus told newsmen on phone that the gunmem who disguised as security forces and dressed in military uniforms, had arrived in the area in a convoy of 10 military-colored Hilux vehicles.Mr. Bitrus added that the invaders had initially pretended to be security personnel deployed to the area and wished holding a town hall meeting seeking cooperation of the entire community on how to stem the persistent attacks in the area. “Though when they came the insurgents did not fire a single shot but we all started runing and entered into our houses. But they kept saying don’t panic we are not here to harm anyone, we are here to protect you and wants hold a meeting. This convinced few of us to come out and assembled before who we perceived as genuine soldiers, while many of us ignored the call and stayed indoors”, he said.”When they realised that very few headed their calls, to our suprise the insurgents begun firing indiscriminate shots into those who assembled, killing 10 people on the spot, while dozens were left wounded”, he added. According to him, they carted away cash, foodstuff and other
Surviving victims of Boko Haram attack who fled to Madagali local government area of Adamawa state. valuables before setting the buildings on fire, leading to serious stampede as residents fled into the nearby bush while others climbed the hills. Asked on if security forces were not present during the attack, the resident said the military deployed to the area had to seek reinforcement of more personnel and arms. “There was time the military came under heavy gunfire añd had to abandone their duty post to seek reinforcement upong realizing the superior power of the Boko Haram”, he further claimed. overnor Kashim Shettima who visited the area, sympathised with the surviving victims. The governor, who led powerful delegation of his cabinet members, was also accompanied by member of the National Assembly representing Borno south, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, directed immediate release of N200 million for the procurement of assorted relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs). Before proceeding to the area, Shettima wept repeatedly when he made stop-over in SabonGarin Madagali town and secretariat of Madagali local government area in Gulak town, all in Adamawa state,
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Woman removing some belongings from the remains of what used to be her house
where over 10,000 of displaced persons took refuge. Addressing the IDPs in Sabon-Garin Madagali, the governor consoled with the survivors and urged them to consider the unfortunate incident as an act of God, saying government is with them at this tragic period. “We are not here to pay for the lost of lives and properties consumed by the Boko Haram onslaught as no amount of cash would either repay for the souls lost or valuables destroyed by the insurgents as well as horrifying trauma you suffered , rather we are here to sympathise with you and see how best to overcome your sufferings”, Shettima declared. At Madagali local government secretariat, Shettima implored the survivors to take heart, saying government has unveiled effective mechanisms to protect their lives and properties against further recurrence of the unfortunate incident.The governor who vowed to ensure adequate welfare for the displaced persons, doled out the sum of N2 million for the procurement of immediate needs for them, Towards this end, he constituted a committee which saddled with mandate for feeding, provision of clothing materials, among other basic needs. Also speaking, Senator Ndume told the victims that Governor Shettima is much committed to ensuring that more troops are deployed to their area to enable them return home. He said the governor has met with President Goodluck Jonathan and deliberated on how best to guarantee their safety. The renewed attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants, whom observers believe have now gone wild and stepped up attacks on vulnerable people irrespective of tribe and religion since the beginning of new year in Borno state, has now became a source of concern as residents are now in palpable fears as which part of the state will be the next target of the terror attack. So far, over 700 people were estimated to have been killed within a month in the state alone, a situation analysts described as “scandalous and reprehensive.” The figure excludes unreported stories of people who were also killed and maimed and countless communities completely sacked across the state. Almost all the villages surrounding Maiduguri, including farming and fishing
communities as well as famous towns that host weekly markets havebeen sacked, heightening fear among residents especially those at the state capital. Observers believe that the biggest irony surrounding recent attacks is that the perpetrators have no preferred targets. Prior to this, the insurgents had launched deadly attacks in the last two weeks and sacked 37communities of Kwaljiri, Kaya, Ngawo Fate, Limanti, Njaba, Yahuri, among others in Damboa, Konduga and Gwoza local government areas. A plausible example is the incident in which gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram late Tuesday stormed Konduga, 35 kilometers from Maiduguri, killing 57 people, with over 2000 houses burnt. Over 50 others sustained gunshot wounds and,burns and are now receiving treatment in various hospitals, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, (UMTH). It was gathered that scores of people who escaped with bullet wounds died in the bushes and their bodies are being recovered for burial. This is the second attack on Konduga town in less than a year. In the first one, over 40 people were killed. 39 bodies were seen at the premises of the Central Mosque of the town, being prepared for burial. This came two weeks after a similar incident in Kawuri community also in Konduga local government in which gunmen killed 85 civilians. ur correspondent who was in Konduga reports that over 70 percent of the town has been destroyed while residents who fled for safety slept in bushes and neighbouring villages. Many of them were yesterday returning home. Local officials and distraught residents told Governor Kashim Shettima who visited the town. The governor was accompanied by the AIG in charge of Zone 12, Mohammed Gana and theBorno State Commissioner of Police, Lawan Tanko’ directed the release of N1000 million for the purchase of relief materials and called on the Federal Government to deploy more troops and equipment to the state to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. “Federal Government should wake up to face its responsibilities. Public
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