Encomium
-Kill nine in fresh attacks on two villages in Borno
Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, breathed a collective sigh of relief when news broke on Friday, October 17, 2014, that the Federal Government had sealed a ceasefire deal with the notorious Boko Haram sect in an agreement which was to see the release of over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the insurgents over six months ago from Chibok, Borno state.
Many looked forward to news headlines which would not be dominated by the group’s destructive activities of blowing up communities, towns and cities – as has been the case in the past five years. But the majority of observers were left perplexed when terrorists, suspected to be Boko Haram members, attacked two villages and a town near the border with Niger, killing at least eight and kidnapping others. Insurgents also occupied the town of Abadam, near neighbouring Niger Republic, killing an unknown number of residents in the attack.
The sect is, however, still to respond to the government’s announcement of the truce.
Their onslaught did not end there as it was reported that 40 women were abducted from Waga Mangoro, while another 20 were taken from their homes in Garta, all in Adamawa state.
At least 25 suspected Boko Haram insurgents were killed in clashes between soldiers and the terrorists in Borno. Five civilians were also killed in fighting elsewhere in the state, a military source and residents said on Monday, October 20.
According to Reuters, an army officer who requested anonymity said the militants tried to enter the town of Damboa (Borno state) late on Sunday (October 19) through Alagarno, a Boko Haram hideout, but soldiers fought them off.
A member of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Mohammed Haruna, said of the clashes on Sunday, (October 19): “Two of our members came to (the town of) Biu this morning from Damboa and said the soldiers engaged Boko Haram yesterday (Saturday, October 18) and the battle lasted till about midnight.”
-MICHAEL NWOKIKE
