The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that eight people were killed, many others injured; while dozens of other residents fled their homes when Boko Haram militants invaded two villages at Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State Wednesday night.
Among the dead were the Iman of a mosque and three kids whose house was set ablaze while asleep.
Two other villages on the outskirts of Maiduguri were also affected when the attackers stormed the first two villages shooting sporadically and setting houses on fire while carting away variety of harvested farm produce, assorted livestock and other items.
NEMA North-East Zonal Coordinator, Bashir Garga, said in a statement said; “Six people from kofa village were killed as a result of suspected Boko Haram terrorists that attacked four villages in outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
“The attack occurred on Wednesday night at about 8:00pm. Kofa, Mallumti, Ngomari and Gozari villages which are close to Dalori IDP camp were affected. Many villagers fled to the Dalori IDP camp for safety which led to an attack on the camp vicinity that claimed the lives of two IDPs making a total of eight people dead.
“The terrorists gained access to the areas through a bush path behind the villages and came in four vehicles and some motorcycles.”
He said residents who ran into the bush for safety had returned to their homes while the Borno State Fire Service had contained the inferno.
At Bulaburin village that is situated just five kilometers away from the metropolis, a victim Malam Usman Abdul Baba told Daily Trust that his three kids and his house were burnt; while the village cleric was also killed.
“I fled into the bush when they came. Because, I knew their target was men and youths, I never knew my kids were inside the house. When i returned this morning, I discovered that my three kids were burnt beyond recognition. I have nothing again. I ran from my village for refuge, and at the end, they (the attackers) killed my sons,” he lamented
A civilian JTF operative, Solomon Yohanna, said the security operatives on ground had engaged about 200 insurgents, but had to retreat.
He said: “We engaged them but they were better equipped and outnumbered us, they came with AA guns, the soldiers tried their best but unfortunately we had fled to the other side of the rivers, we lost two displaced persons and several of their tents were burnt.”
