Boko Haram hoists flag in Borno villages
Boko Haram gunmen attacked a military
base and a nearby police barracks in Buni Yadi, Yobe State on Monday
evening, killing at least 33 security personnel, security sources and
residents told Daily Trust yesterday.
Eighteen soldiers and 18 policemen, including the divisional police officer and his deputy, were among those killed in the attack.
Buni Yadi is the town where Boko Haram gunmen killed dozens of students at a Federal Government College in February. Less than two weeks ago, gunmen stormed the town and abducted a traditional ruler and a local chemist.
In the Monday evening attack, a large number of gunmen wearing military fatigue arrived in six pick-up trucks, armoured personnel carrier and on motorbikes.
They first headed for the military base at the Ten Housing Estate and the police barracks nearby, where they killed at least 33 security men and set fire to buildings.
“They disguised in military uniforms and approached the gate in Hilux vans and an armored tank painted in military colours. The soldiers mistook them as colleagues and opened the gate before the attackers opened fire on them,” one resident said.
The gunmen then returned to the centre of the town and set fire to the palace of district head Alhaji Abba Hassan Mai Mukhtar, the Magistrate’s court, and the local INEC office.
Four cars were also burnt in the district head’s palace, residents said.
Apart from the DPO, the deputy crimes officer (DCO) was also among the policemen killed.
“The policemen were attacked in the Gujba Divisional Police Headquarters barracks located opposite the military base. We even saw the corpse of a very friendly police constable,” a resident said.
He said people were prevented from moving close to the military base after the violence, but he understood that the number of security personnel killed was 36.
A resident said when the attackers came they told residents to stop running and stay calm as the gunmen were not targeting civilians.
“They assured people that they will not kill any civilian. They said uniformed men were their target,” he said.
He said after the attack on the military base, the armour personnel carrier drove back into the town to attack government buildings and the monarch’s palace. He said a red flag with Arabic inscription was hoisted on the vehicle.
Residents of Buni Yadi they had reported noticing suspicious movements of Boko Haram men around the area but security agencies did not take action.
Young men have continued to migrate from the town due to a recent threat by the Boko Haram to forcefully recruit youths into the sect.
“They kidnapped a ward head and a chemist recently, and they also threatened that they will come for 30 people,” a resident said.
In Damaturu, the state capital, the police commissioner and military commander spent hours in a meeting with Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu over the latest incident.
The police commissioner confirmed the Buni Yadi attack but said he needed time to get details for journalists.
“Please give me more time to get more information,” he said.
Eighteen soldiers and 18 policemen, including the divisional police officer and his deputy, were among those killed in the attack.
Buni Yadi is the town where Boko Haram gunmen killed dozens of students at a Federal Government College in February. Less than two weeks ago, gunmen stormed the town and abducted a traditional ruler and a local chemist.
In the Monday evening attack, a large number of gunmen wearing military fatigue arrived in six pick-up trucks, armoured personnel carrier and on motorbikes.
They first headed for the military base at the Ten Housing Estate and the police barracks nearby, where they killed at least 33 security men and set fire to buildings.
“They disguised in military uniforms and approached the gate in Hilux vans and an armored tank painted in military colours. The soldiers mistook them as colleagues and opened the gate before the attackers opened fire on them,” one resident said.
The gunmen then returned to the centre of the town and set fire to the palace of district head Alhaji Abba Hassan Mai Mukhtar, the Magistrate’s court, and the local INEC office.
Four cars were also burnt in the district head’s palace, residents said.
Apart from the DPO, the deputy crimes officer (DCO) was also among the policemen killed.
“The policemen were attacked in the Gujba Divisional Police Headquarters barracks located opposite the military base. We even saw the corpse of a very friendly police constable,” a resident said.
He said people were prevented from moving close to the military base after the violence, but he understood that the number of security personnel killed was 36.
A resident said when the attackers came they told residents to stop running and stay calm as the gunmen were not targeting civilians.
“They assured people that they will not kill any civilian. They said uniformed men were their target,” he said.
He said after the attack on the military base, the armour personnel carrier drove back into the town to attack government buildings and the monarch’s palace. He said a red flag with Arabic inscription was hoisted on the vehicle.
Residents of Buni Yadi they had reported noticing suspicious movements of Boko Haram men around the area but security agencies did not take action.
Young men have continued to migrate from the town due to a recent threat by the Boko Haram to forcefully recruit youths into the sect.
“They kidnapped a ward head and a chemist recently, and they also threatened that they will come for 30 people,” a resident said.
In Damaturu, the state capital, the police commissioner and military commander spent hours in a meeting with Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu over the latest incident.
The police commissioner confirmed the Buni Yadi attack but said he needed time to get details for journalists.
“Please give me more time to get more information,” he said.
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