Boko Haram Mocks FG, Kills 12 Persons In Borno
BY EDMOND ODOK – Less than 48 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message on Monday, 1st January 2024 about improved security situation in the country since his assumption of office on May 2023, suspected Boko Haram terrorists have again struck, killing 12 persons, abducting one and injuring many others in Borno State.
In what seems a mockery of the Federal Government’s touted gains over insecurity, the latest attack occurred in Gatamarwa and Tsiha communities of Chibok Local Government Area in the State and comes about two weeks after the insurgents, who came in military uniform, dealt a similar blow on Chibok
Reports indicated that the Chibok’s invasion claimed two lives with destruction of property and looting of food stuff in many of the residents’ houses before they were torched by the rampaging terrorists.
Confirming the deadly attack, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Borno State Command, ASP Nahum Daso Kenneth, said 12 corpses have so far been recovered from the two affected communities
According to the Command’s Spokesman; “The gunmen shot sporadically at the people in the two communities. So far, 12 corpses were recovered and two were injured.”
ASP Daso Kenneth said the Police Commissioner and other security heads have already ordered discreet investigation into the matter to bring the perpetrators to book.
Insider sources also hinted that the terrorists invaded the Gatamarwa community around 5pm on Monday during the New Year celebration.
It was further gathered from the sources that the invaders, who were brandishing sophisticated weapons stormed the communities in large number, even as there was lack of prompt response from the security agencies.
One of the insiders captured the communities’ trauma thus; “The insurgents who were heavily armed with AK-47 rifles, came on motorcycles, in Hilux vans and opened fire on mourners returning from Gatamarwa.
“They later attacked another Tsiha community near Shikarkir and killed three people and abducted a young lady. They also burnt and left houses in ruins after looting the people’s foodstuffs and other belongings”.
The rising attacks in Borno State of recent have led to the disruption of electricity supplies in Borno and Yobe after terrorists and bandits destroyed six 33KVA towers that connected the two states.
Other deadly attacks by terrorists and criminal elements within the seven months of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration include the abduction of University students in Gusau, Dustin Ma and Keffi communities located across the North-East, North-West and North-Central geopolitical zones of the country.
Specifically, in Maru Local Government of Zamfara State, over 100 residents of Mutunji and other communities were also abducted and none of the kidnapped victims has regained freedom since November.
The tragic killing of about 200 people on Christmas Eve by criminal elements in Plateau State is still fresh in the minds of many as the country celebrate the new year in mourning.
