Boko Haram kills five soldiers, 15 Borno villagers

Boko Haram terrorists have killed no fewer than 20 people in another attack on Wajirko community along the Biu-Damboa Road in Borno State.

Our correspondents gathered that the terrorists carried out the attack around 12pm on Thursday, inflicting injuries on many others who managed to escape.

A top security source told Saturday PUNCH that among those killed were five soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.

“The civilians were engaged in construction work at a bridge site on Thursday before the terrorists attacked them. In the process, five soldiers were killed; three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force were also killed, as well as many civilians who were working there,” the source said.

Confirming the attack in a statement on Friday, the National Secretary of the Biu Forum, Bukar Tashkalma, expressed shock over the incident, saying that over 20 people died in the attack.

He said, “The Biu Forum is shocked and saddened by the recent attack by Boko Haram terrorists on soldiers and civilians at Wajirko along the Biu–Damboa Road in Borno State, where over 20 people from Biu lost their lives, and many others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“The attack, which occurred during bush-clearing operations and the reconstruction of a bridge, has left the Biu community in grief and anguish.

The leadership and members of the Biu Forum pray to Almighty Allah to grant the deceased souls Jannah and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

According to him, the civilian victims have been buried according to Islamic rites.

“We extend heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and associates of the victims and urge them to find solace in Allah’s will. The Jana’iza prayers were performed at the Emir of Biu’s palace, led by the Chief Imam of Biu Central Mosque, Nuruddeen Umaru Isa, and the deceased were buried in accordance with Islamic injunctions in Biu.

“We commend the bravery of our security forces and call on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address the root causes of the insurgency, while providing adequate security for Borno State and the North-East region,” he added.

The Boko Haram terrorists had, on January 24, killed a pastor and four other residents of Tarfa village in Hawul LGA of Borno State.

It was gathered that the terrorists had earlier attacked the community at about 7 pm on January 22, displacing residents, firing sporadically and setting buildings ablaze.

Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised several bandits and arrested others during a military offensive across parts of Kwara State, as security forces intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the area.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the operations, carried out between January 23 and 29, were executed by troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army, with support from the Office of the National Security Adviser, under the Joint Operations Area.

Confirming the development in a statement issued on Friday in Ilorin, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Capt Maureen Ogbuka, said the operations recorded “significant successes” in degrading the activities of bandits terrorising communities in the state.

The Army said the coordinated offensive was conducted under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 3 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Chinedu Nnebife, alongside the Commander of the 22 Brigade, Ilorin, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.

“Troops carried out aggressive fighting patrols in several identified bandits’ enclaves, leading to the neutralisation of some terrorists, while others fled into surrounding forests with suspected gunshot wounds.

“During the operations, troops, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, conducted coordinated fighting patrols in several bandits’ enclaves. They successfully neutralised some terrorists, while others escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries,” Ogbuka said.

She added that the military also destroyed several hideouts and camps used by the criminals, effectively dislodging them from their operational bases.

The Army spokesperson disclosed that troops also cleared Garin Dandi, a notorious bandits’ enclave in Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State, where logistics bases and supply routes used by the criminals were dismantled.

Troops also stormed remote camps hitherto inaccessible to security forces, destroying abandoned camps and logistics enablers, thereby significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment capability,” she added.

The Army, however, raised concerns over the role of informants within local communities, noting that intelligence gathered during the operations revealed that some residents were aiding the bandits.