Nigeria: 26 Persons Killed in Boko Haram Night Raids On Borno Villages

Suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect were alleged to have randomly attacked some Borno villages at night, leading to death of over 26 persons and displacement of several others. Forty houses were also said to have been torched in the villages.

It was gathered that the attacks, which began on Sunday night and had not ceased by Wednesday night, affected villages in Southern Borno which were once serene. The affected villages include Bdagu, Izge, Hartsa and Yazza in Gwoza, Damboa and Askira-Uba Local Government Areas of the state.

It was also learnt that the insurgents also recorded casualties as three of them were said to have been killed when people from the neighbouring villages of Dille and Lassa mobilised and pursued them in a counter-attack.

The villagers were said to have after killing the three insurgents, pursued the rest of the hoodlums into nearby bushes in the area.

It was gathered from a source in Bdagu community that the attackers between Monday and Wednesday, stormed the affected villages using two Hilux vehicles, three buses and over 30 motorcycles, and were armed with AK47 rifles. They went from house to house, killing, looting and setting houses ablaze.

The source revealed that in the Bdagu night attack alone, over 40 residential houses were burnt down by the sect members, including some farmlands in the area.

Another source from Yazza village told journalists that it was unfortunate that the attackers operated with impunity, "without any challenge as we the villagers were unarmed and helpless.

"We want to use this medium to appeal to the state government and the General Officer commanding the newly established 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Obidah Ethan, to immediately deploy military troops to the area, as we are now living in constant fear of more attacks."

Though it was difficult to get an official confirmation of the attacks at press time, a security official who was not authorised to speak to the press confirmed the attacks and killings in the villages.