Boko Haram Invades Borno Town

Boko Haram insurgents, numbering about 300, invaded Magumeri town in northern part of Borno State on Wednesday evening, a member of youth vigilante group who spoke anonymously told THISDAY in Maiduguri.

He said the insurgency group initially caught the soldiers guarding the town napping as many had to retreat after initial exchange of gunfire.

The civilians had to take to their heels, according to him, giving the insurgents opportunity to set ablaze the military facilities and some parts of the town.

He said: “They (insurgents) came in at least six Toyota Hilux van, 10 motorcycles and some on foot.

“They were over 300 terrorists, and as soon as they came into the town, they began shooting and the soldiers countered them but were overpowered with most of the soldiers fleeing.

“This gave the insurgents opportunity to loot and burn the barracks to ashes as well as the police station.”

The source added that the casualty figure was still unknown.

He however said the military reinforcement from Gubio and Maiduguri cleared the town of the marauding terrorists.

The local vigilante member noted that the attack which made many civilians to flee the town happened at about 5:30 p.m on Wednesday.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, confirmed the attack on Magumeri in two separate statements.

In the first statement, he said: “Troops of 8 Task Force Division, Operation Lafiya Dole, have thwarted attack of Magumeri town last Wednesday evening.

“The terrorists who came on some vehicles at about 6.00p.m. attempted to set the town ablaze and kill the residents but the timely intervention of the troops prevented such act.

“The troops have neutralised quite a number of the attackers and those that escaped with gunshot wounds are still being pursued.

“So far, the troops have recovered three vehicles and large quantity of arms and ammunition.”

He promised to give further details after the pursuit and mop up operation.

The details he later gave in the second statement said: “Please recall that suspected Boko Haram terrorists attempted to unleash mayhem on Magumeri town, Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State yesterday (Wednesday) evening. The timely intervention of the military thwarted the attack.

“While troops are still consolidating and mopping up, it is imperative to state that preliminary investigation shows that the attackers of Magumeri came from the same community. The terrorists that attacked the village are well known to the people

“It should also be noted that the village was never attacked throughout the period of the insurgency for some inexplicable reasons. The terrorists and their collaborators hibernating in the area were never exposed. There seems to be unholy alliance between the terrorists and the villagers.”

He added that “consequently, we are constrained to state that it’s now high time for the people to take up the fight themselves and help the Nigerian military and other security agencies to protect them. It is a grievous mistake and criminal offence to continue to shield or harbour any known Boko Haram terrorist in their midst.

“The terrorists must be exposed and their movements promptly reported to the security agencies. The terrorists are inhuman and barbaric, therefore cannot be trusted to spare anyone in perpetuating their inhuman acts.”

The army spokesman further said: “It is imperative that all communities in the North-east especially Borno State, should fully cooperate with the military and the security agencies by exposing Boko Haram terrorists in their respective towns and villages.”

Also confirming the attack, the Public Relations Office of the Borno State Police Command, Victor Isuku, a deputy superintendent of police, revealed in a statement that one police officer deployed to quell the attack was lost and another shot on the leg by the insurgents.

Isuku, in the statement, said: “Yesterday evening, information was received that Magumeri town was under attack by Boko Haram terrorist elements.

“On receipt of the report, teams of FSARS and EOD personnel were quickly mobilised to the scene. A mobile police, Sgt. Haliru Aliyu, deployed with the military in Magumeri on special duty was killed while one Sgt. Lawrence Ayeni sustained gunshot injury on his leg and is currently at the military hospital receiving treatment.”

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, has said the residential quarters in Magumeri was not destroyed in the attack on the town by insurgents on Wednesday evening.

The deputy governor, who spoke on the attack in Maiduguri yesterday, said he has been informed that only the military outpost in the town was attacked where armoured vehicle, a block of office and communication room of the military were set ablaze.

He also disclosed that the police station in the town was attacked where the parked official vehicle of the Divisional Police Officer was riddled with bullets.

The deputy governor who answered questions from journalists after returning back to Maiduguri after a visit to Magumeri, said he had been to the twin in company of the state Commissioner of Police, Director of SSS, Member of Borno State House of Assembly representing Magumeri, said he was delighted that nobody was hurt and no house was burnt against the rumour making the round in Maiduguri town that the insurgents attacked Magumeri and burnt the whole town and chased the residents out of the town.

He said contrary to what the people were saying and scaring innocent citizens in Maiduguri, his team arrived the town and met people going about their normal businesses and confidently moving about peacefully.

It was learnt that the staff officer of the military team at Magumeri had confirmed to the Deputy Governor during the visit that one soldier was killed and another found in the morning while on search of the area for those missing.

He equally told the deputy governor that three soldiers sustained injuries and were in the hospital responding to treatment they sustained during the attack.