Residents walk past burnt houses following multiple attacks by Boko Haram Islamists at Dalori and other neighbouring villages outside the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, on November 1, 2018. At least 12 civilians were killed in multiple Boko Haram jihadist late on October 31, 2018 attacked Bulaburin and Kofa villages as well as a camp in Dalori village outside the Borno state capital of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria, civilian militia and residents told AFP Thursday. AUDU MARTE / AFP
Thousands flee homes over banditry in Katsina
Boko Haram terrorists have attacked Bulaburin and Kofa villages as well as the Dalori II camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State.
The Wednesday night attack, according to a leader of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Ya’Abba Isa, claimed twelve lives while a section of the refugees’ abode was burnt by the insurgents.
In a telephone chat yesterday, Isa said: “The insurgents attacked and completely burnt Bulaburin and Kofa villages. They also torched about 50 per cent of the camp before fleeing through the Maiduguri-Konduga road.
“Nine villagers were killed in Bulaburin, two IDPs in Dalori camp and a villager in Kofa.”
The terrorists, it was gathered, stole food items and livestock prior to their torching of the two villages, adding that they came from the northern flank of the Sambisa Forest.
“The attackers moved in gun trucks and motorcycles to nearby Bulaburin where they gunned down nine people and burnt the village after looting food items and livestock,” said a resident, Mustapha Abdu.
It was also learnt that the insurgents exchanged fire with troops and the vigilance group at the camp gate.
On the IDPs’ assault, Isa stated: “When the Boko Haram gunmen came, they stopped on the road overlooking the camp and started firing.
“Soldiers and some of our members at the gate engaged them in a gun battle. We were forced to withdraw into the camp because we were out-gunned for the insurgents to torch 50 per cent of the camp.”
He said the inmates were forced to flee and two got killed several others injured in the process.
The civilian JTF went on: “They set ablaze half of the camp by firing rocket-propelled grenades on tents and buildings. A grenade didn’t explode and is still lying in the camp waiting for bomb disposal units to evacuate it.”
Dalori camps I and II that accommodate over 45,000 IDPs had been severally attacked by the sect.
However, thousands, including women and children, have fled their homes in Sabon Garin Dumburawa village of Batsari Local Council of Katsina State for fear of reprisals by bandits.
Hoodlums were recently repelled by the locals and given the beating of their lives before two of their motorcycles were seized.