Villagers flee Borno communities as B’Haram, troops engage in fierce battle

A clash between the military and fighters of the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) that raged for hours on Saturday has made hundreds of people in many communities located within the Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State to flee their homes.

The insurgents had invaded the Borno villages after a similar raid on Garkida in Adamawa on December 24.

The marauding insurgents were said to have stormed the Borno villages on Saturday in nine gun trucks and launched coordinated attacks.

All the visited communities are in the southern part of the state, which used to be relatively safe from attacks from the insurgents.

But ground troops with aerial support from the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole launched a counterattack and were able to repel the invasion.

Specifically, villages invaded are Tashan Alade, Shafa, Azare, Sabon-Kasuwa and Debro, all in the Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.

The insurgents reportedly burnt down schools, shops and places of worship during the attacks.

Eleven people were reportedly killed; five others abducted and several residents injured.

Thousands of bags of farm products recently harvested by farmers were alleged to have been looted by the insurgents who also emptied shops and market stalls.

Spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, said the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole had scrambled fighter jets to engage the invaders.

“The Air Task Force OPLD has scrambled NAF aircraft to the area since the most recent attack on some settlements surrounding Garkida started just after sunset today (Saturday).

“The aircraft have been engaging the Boko Haram terrorists,” he said in a message to defence reporters.

Hundreds of the villagers were said to have fled their homes while the terrorists were shooting sporadically.

The fleeing villagers took refuge in the nearby bushes and mountains.

Air strikes from Nigerian Air Force reportedly compelled the attackers looting shops and residential areas to flee.

The villagers were said to have watched the exchange of fire from the mountain tops.

The terrorists also set ablaze, vehicles and trucks belonging to a construction company.

A member of the vigilante group in the area said the attackers burnt down two EYN churches in Tashan Allade as the villagers scampered to the bushes.

Another member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Balami Yusuf, told reporters, “As I am speaking to you, they are shooting. You can hear from the background.

“We are in the bushes and people are running and children are crying. We are helpless.”

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, on Sunday was said to have been briefed about the incident.

The governor had cut short his visit to Abuja to return to Maiduguri and on arrival, he took a military chopper to assess the damage in the affected communities.

Zulum, according to his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, had travelled from Maiduguri to Katsina and Abuja on Thursday, for series of scheduled activities.

A statement by the governor’s spokesman confirmed the destruction visited on Tashan Alade, Shafa, Azare, Sabon-Kasuwa and Debro by the insurgents.

Gusau said Zulum was in Yimirshika, Azare, Sabon-Kasuwa and Shafa, where he inspected all destroyed property, including police station, market stalls and others, and ordered their immediate reconstruction.

The statement said:, “In Shafa, Zulum ordered the provision of six patrol vehicles and other components to strengthen local security network in the community. Also in Yamirshika, Zulum directed the provision of surveillance vehicles to hunters and vigilantes.”

He said the governor addressed “terrified residents who returned to Yamirshika town earlier Saturday, after attempts by insurgents on the town, was repelled.”

The governor commiserated with the people, adding, “We departed Abuja to Maiduguri this morning, and we are here to show our sympathy and to stand with all of you, our brothers in Hawul, over the sad incident, yesterday (Saturday).

“I have been fully briefed and I have seen things myself, insha’Allah, we will strengthen security here and in all places. We will as soon as possible, make available all your requirements based on my interaction with security stakeholders and community leaders.

“We will rehabilitate the police station, the shops and all other infrastructures destroyed yesterday.”

The governor also said, “As enshrined in section 14, 2b of the 1999 Constitution, security of lives and property remains the cardinal objective of any government. We know this and we are doing everything within our powers to provide security and ensure the welfare of citizens. We will neither relent nor shy away from our responsibilities. We shall remain resilient and focused in our search for peace in Borno.”