Boko Haram kills 16 in Borno, Adamawa, razes 50 houses

Bokom Haram

The country’s insecurity situation worsened weekend as Boko Haram and its sister formation, Islamic State of West Africa, ISWAP, again launched attacks on communities in Borno and Adamawa states,

killing people and rendering thousands homeless. No fewer than nine persons, including three soldiers, were killed in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, while United Nations’ facilities were set on fire, forcing humanitarian workers to flee for their lives.

In Adamawa, no fewer than 5,000 persons, mainly women, and children were displaced at Kwapre village in Dugwaba District of Hong Local Government Area, when the insurgents invaded the community. These attacks came as hoodlums on Saturday night, invaded Ekori police station in Yakkur Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State, carting away an AK-47 rifle with some rounds of ammunition. This is even as gunmen kidnapped a 13-year-old boy in Ogun State, demanding N50 million ransom to set him free, just another set of gunmen also abducted a Catholic priest in Imo State but are yet to make demands. In the Borno attack, residents told Vanguard that the Boko Haram insurgents invaded Mobbar Sunday evening and engaged the military who tried to repel them. It was learned that in the gun battle, some of the insurgents were killed, while three soldiers also lost their lives.

The attack took place in the absence of Governor Babagana Zulum, who was said to have traveled to Ibadan to receive an award bestowed on him by University of Ibadan authorities as ‘Most Distinguished Alumnus’. In Damasak, some residents who survived the attack told Vanguard that the insurgents also stormed the general hospital in the area and carted away medical consumables and equipment without confrontation. A source told Vanguard operational vehicles and facilities of humanitarian workers, including those of the United Nations were either carted away or set ablaze. The insurgents, who were said to have arrived in the community in the military-camouflaged gun truck, opened fire on a military formation, forcing many residents and security operatives to flee into Maiduguri town, until a reinforcement team, including mobile policemen, were deployed to restore sanity to the area.